{"id":1797,"date":"2017-11-25T17:07:08","date_gmt":"2017-11-25T22:07:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/?page_id=1797"},"modified":"2020-02-15T19:01:19","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T00:01:19","slug":"chapter-5-30-seconds-and-counting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/1-apollo-17-diary-of-the-12th-man\/b-chapters-1-9\/chapter-5-30-seconds-and-counting\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5 – “30 Seconds and Counting”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

“30 Seconds and Counting”[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Ignition of the five F-1 engines of the Saturn V S-IC first stage of Apollo 17 at Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, December 7, 1972 (NASA photo S72-55482).<\/span><\/p>\n

T-minus 30 seconds\u2026we have a cutoff, we have a cutoff at T-minus 30 seconds. We are standing by at the T-minus 30 second mark. We\u2019ll bring word to you just as soon as we get it. We have a cutoff at T-minus 30 seconds. T-minus 30 seconds and holding. This is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re holding at the 30 second mark. This was an automatic cutoff. Cutoff by the Terminal Sequencer…<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThirty seconds and holding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

We had no indications of a problem within the spacecraft and could only wait for information from the launch control center. As the spacecraft\u2019s clock counted down from 30 seconds through zero, we lay there without moving, three pair of eyes rapidly scanning the instrument panels for any clues to why the countdown had stopped at this critical point.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing wrong on my gauges,\u201d<\/span> I told the others on the intercom after a quick scan.<\/span><\/p>\n

The question bouncing around inside America<\/em> at the time, however, was \u201cWill management be convinced of any analysis or will we go into another month of training and quarantine.\u201d No question existed in the spacecraft that we should go for launch! (See Mother\u2019s diary, Appendix I for December 6c)<\/span><\/p>\n

This is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. The astronaut crew aboard the spacecraft is going through their various safing now. Safing of all systems, and the launch team here continuing through their emergency procedures. We\u2019ll be standing by to check out the problem just as soon as we can get word. T-minus 30 seconds and holding. This is Kennedy Launch Control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did the Saturn V know that we were at \u201c30 seconds and holding?\u201d I felt a rush of adrenalin along with waves of disappointment, followed by anticipation of the violence of a possible launch-pad abort or rapid evacuation of the spacecraft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, working with Launch Control, we went through the process of putting America\u2019s<\/em> systems in a safe condition. After about five minutes of extreme uncertainty mixed with not-so-reassuring reports on the communications loop saying,<\/span> \u201cWe\u2019re looking at the problem,\u201d<\/span> Test Conductor Skip Chauvin\u2019s calm and calming voice entered our ears:<\/span> \u201cIt looks like the Countdown Sequencer thought the LOX (liquid oxygen) tank for the S-IVB (Saturn third stage) wasn\u2019t pressurized even though we had pressurized it with a manual override command. It\u2019s either a sensor or a computer problem. The Saturn\u2019s fine. We\u2019ll work it out and get back to you shortly. By the way, we\u2019ve recycled to T minus 22 minutes and holding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan appeared to remain tense even after this explanation. He, of course, as Commander, had control of the T-shaped hand controller at his left, a counter-clockwise twist of which could initiate a rapid sequence of events culminating in ignition of the launch escape rocket that would send us blazing off the top of the Saturn V. To me, however, Skip\u2019s voice carried the familiar tone of competence and confidence I had grown use to from him in vacuum chamber and Launch Pad tests. It immediately told me that \u201cwe know what the problem is, we know how to fix it, and all we have to do is convince the bosses we can go ahead.\u201d With this feeling of assurance, a light buzz in my ear phones, soft vibrations through my couch and suit back, and the hum of the of America\u2019s<\/em> fans and pumps, I went to sleep. Put me on my back with those soothing sounds, and I can sleep anywhere. Nothing I could do would help, and you never know when you many need the rest. Outside, Swing Arm #9, with its attached White Room, returned to its nearby, T-22 minutes ready position in case we were told to leave the spacecraft in a hurry.<\/span><\/p>\n

About twenty minutes after Chauvin gave us his explanation for the hold, Launch Control announced over the public address system:<\/p>\n

We\u2019re at T minus 30 seconds and continuing our hold. The problem was with the Terminal Countdown Sequencer, which failed to give the command to\u2026pressurize the third stage LOX [liquid oxygen] tank. The crew (team) in the firing room, seeing this [failure] happen, pressurized the tank manually, but this did not happen fast enough to satisfy the automatic sequencer. As was mentioned earlier, during this sequence everything must happen at a certain time, before the next step in the [countdown] sequence can take place. The next step that was to take place was the retraction of Swing Arm #1 and, at the time that was to take place, the Terminal Sequencer had not had an indication that the third stage LOX tank had been pressurized.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan now is to recycle to the T minus 22-minute mark in the countdown. Now this recycling procedure will take an additional 35 to 40 minutes. This still puts us well within our launch window. While we\u2019re recycling, we\u2019ll continue to review the data to determine just what the problem is and whether or not we can proceed from the T minus 22-minute mark for a launch later in the window. The crew aboard the spacecraft have been alerted to the problem and understand what is happening. They\u2019re standing by there at this time. Now at T minus 30 seconds and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control.<\/span><\/p>\n

This night of December 6, 1972, the minutes turned into hours and we waited. Midnight came and it was December 7th<\/sup> in Florida\u2014 but still no final word.<\/span><\/p>\n

We later learned that, at T-30 seconds, the Countdown Sequencer of the launch control computer had been programmed in the deep, dark past to look at whether a signal had been sent to pressurize the S-IVB liquid oxygen tank rather that to look at whether the tank actually had been pressurized. Indeed, the Sequencer had failed to send a pressurization signal, but the launch controller monitoring the flow of pre-launch events saw this failure and sent a backup signal that pressurized the tank. We were good to go, but the Sequencer just did not know \u201cwe were good to go\u201d and put us into a hold when, at 30 seconds, it made its final complete check of all critical launch parameters prior to the full retraction of Swing Arm #1. This problem was quickly addressed by installing a shunt (hard-wiring) around a specific part in the IBM 360 computer circuitry so that Sequencer would ignore checking for that command execution. It would still take a couple of hours to verify everything and convince senior management that all was well. All through the wait, Parker and Launch Operations Manager Paul Donally kept us informed on the troubleshooting and remedial actions that were being considered.<\/p>\n

Later, after Apollo 17 reached Earth-orbit, Launch Director Kapryan explained to the Press what happened and what was done to fix the problem as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cAt T-minus 2 minutes and 47 seconds the [Terminal] Countdown Sequencer [TCS] failed to output the proper command to pressurize the S-IVB LOX tank. The control room monitors noted it and immediately took steps to perform that pressurization manually. This was done, and at the time that we had the cutoff, we were up to pressure and everything was normal. The problem was that since the TCS did [not] output the command, the logic circuitry said that we really didn\u2019t complete all of the launch prep for the S-IVB stage, and we do have an interlock in our countdown circuitry that precludes the retracting of Swing Arm #1 which occurs at T-minus 30 seconds if this has not occurred, and that is the reason for the cutoff.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, it didn\u2019t take us very long to determine that we should bypass this command failure and go through the pressurization, manually, and go through the rest of the countdown, except we weren\u2019t completely certain that the final 30 seconds would all work properly. We did have a problem. How did we know that the last 30 seconds would work properly? How did we know that once we started igniting the 5 first-stage engines that perhaps we would get a cutoff on one of them, which we wanted to avoid at all costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo that was the time consuming feature in the delay. We performed the operation of installing the jumper [shunt] which we were able to do in the firing room. We have a preplanned design where we can go in with banana plugs and put in jumpers to jumper any point in the circuitry that we desire to without having to go out to the mobile launcher, and that is what we did. [To test this,] The same jumper was installed in the breadboard [duplicate TCS circuit] at Huntsville, and the sequence was run through several times on the breadboard, and every time we had a successful run.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew that there was in this particular [electronic computer] card where we had the problem, [and] there was a sequence that occurred at T-minus 22 seconds, the guidance alert sequence\u2026that\u2019s actually a discreet event. We were a little concerned over that one. Our logic told us that we could lose that and it would not interrupt the [launch] sequence what-so-ever. We went back to the breadboard in Huntsville, however, to demonstrate that. We actually cut that [S-IVB] command off and ran through the sequence again with the jumper and everything worked fine. We had every assurance that the failure we had was in no way connected with engine start circuit, which is the one [possibility] that personally gave me the greatest concern. Once we were satisfied that we had no problem in that area, we picked up the count and went on our merry way.<\/span><\/p>\n

REPORTER QUERY: Did you have a premature ignition? Did we see something\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

KAPRYAN: No, what you saw was a perfectly normal occurrence for the condition we were in. When we have a cutoff at T-minus 30 seconds, there\u2019s\u2026a lot of hydrogen being vented into the burn pond and it flames up quite a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

REPORTER QUERY: Were you at any time giving serious consideration at all to letting the launch slip until tomorrow\u2019s window?<\/span><\/p>\n

KAPRYAN: Well, when you run into a problem, before you get it resolved, you always have that concern. When we were about\u2026an hour and fifteen minutes into the troubleshooting, we knew that we would not be able to recycle for tomorrow\u2026We never did get to the point where we gave up and said, \u201cit looks like we\u2019re going to have to quit.\u201d We knew we had quite a bit of time left [in the launch window], so we just worked the problem and didn\u2019t think about scrubbing.<\/span><\/p>\n

REPORTER QUERY: Due to the fact that TLI will be changed, how would this affect the timing of the whole mission as a whole [with] reference to the EVA\u2019s and the TransEarth Insertion. Would this change anything in the timing or just the GET (Ground Elapsed Time)\u2026?<\/span><\/p>\n

KAPRYAN: It\u2019s not going to change anything. The EVA\u2019s and lunar activity will be exactly as scheduled. Now of course, the ground elapsed time when the spacecraft gets to the Moon is going to be different. But they\u2019re going to get there at the same time that they would have gotten there, had we lifted off at 9:53. Now, I\u2019m not certain how they\u2019re going to play that [in detail]. If you recall, when we launched Apollo 14, we launched 40 minutes late. They of course made the TLI correction to get to the Moon [faster and] at the right [mission] time. And in order to simplify using the flight plan, I think they updated their GET reference [in Mission Control in Houston], so that they were using a fictitious GET reference that put them back on their flight plan [GET numbers].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So, everything related to the launch of Apollo 17 was cycled back to the T minus 22-minute point in the countdown sequence. Cernan finally seemed to relax, Evans chatted and hummed away, and I took a nap. Outside, the viewers along the causeways and crowding the designated viewing areas of the Center consumed their snacks and drinks and Apollo Saturn Launch Control\u2019s public affairs announcer kept providing his status reports.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control, continuing to stand by at the T minus 22-minute mark in the countdown. Recycling operations have gone well. We\u2019re back to the T minus 22-minute mark and at this mark which we will pick up the count if we are given a GO to resume. Check has been made of the Mission Control Center team at the Mission Control Center in Houston. All elements of that team report that they are ready to resume as soon as they get the word. Now standing by here at Kennedy Space Center, while data is reviewed and determination will be made if and when we can resume our countdown for Apollo 17. Now at T minus 22 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We are continuing to standby at the T-22 minute mark. We are hoping to resume the count shortly. The problem has not been resolved. We\u2019re continuing to look into it; however, it has been determined that a resolution one-way or the other should be able to be made shortly. So right now we are continuing our recycle procedures hoping to pick up the count perhaps just minutes from now. If the problem is not resolved by the time we reach the T-8 minute mark after we continue to count down, the clock will be held again. Right now we are continuing the recycling procedures hoping to pick up shortly at T-22 minutes. We are now T-22 minutes and holding. This is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re at T minus 21 minutes 10 seconds and counting. The countdown picked up, the launch team here made a quick check of the various elements, all reporting in to the test supervisor Bill Schick, indicating that they were ready to resume the count. Now counting at T minus 20 minutes 53 seconds, and we\u2019ll continue to countdown here as we look at the problem which caused the hold at the T minus 30 second mark. Now at T minus 20 minutes 42 seconds and counting; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re at T-minus 9 minutes 36 seconds and we are counting. However, we do plan to continue the hold at the T-minus 8 minute mark. We can hold at that point for 20 minutes and plan a 20 minute hold while the launch crew here satisfies themselves that they have worked out a good solution and a work around to the problem. The crew has been alerted aboard the spacecraft. Schmitt indicated that perhaps they could start a nice conservation about a good book, Thomas Hardy or something like that. Countdown continuing now aiming toward the 8 minute mark at which time we\u2019ll hold. T-minus 9 minutes now, T-minus 9 minutes and counting; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re now holding at the 8-minute mark, as planned. The hold at this time is planned for approximately 20 minutes. The [launch] crew feels that they have\u2026a work-around to the problem, working around the indication going to the Terminal Sequencer that the tank has not been pressurized, when actually it had been done manually. They are checking all of their data, however, to insure that this is the proper method to work around the problem and that this will result in a smooth countdown from here on. Now at T minus 8 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re continuing our hold at the 8-minute mark. The Launch Operations Manager has gone over with the launch team their proposed\u2026work-around. The team appears to be satisfied that it is the proper one. They are now briefing management personnel on the problem and the work-around. Out at the pad the liquid oxygen continues to vent from the vehicle and is replenished. Liquid hydrogen is also vented from the vehicle as there is some boil off. However, because it is quite a volatile fuel it is vented through a burn-pond at the side of the pad. That burn-pond is at the north side of the pad and there it can be seen burning in a controlled condition at this time. This is a normal condition, actually during the day this burns in such a pure manner that it cannot be seen. However, at night it is clearly visible. Our countdown continuing to hold at the T-minus 8 minute mark at this time. T-minus 8 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re continuing to hold at the T-8 minute mark. Meantime the [Apollo 17] crew is getting a variety of updates in the spacecraft, updating them on various aspects and the changes to their mission due to this hold period. Also, at the Manned Spacecraft Center they are continuing to update the flight azimuth as they get new times for the launch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLaunch Operations Manager Paul Donnelly just went through quite an extensive briefing with the Spacecraft Test Conductor to pass on to the crew what they feel the problems were and how they plan to work around it. The crew aboard the spacecraft indicated that if the launch team was satisfied with these solutions, that they certainly were confident themselves. Now continuing our hold at the T-8 minute mark this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re continuing in our hold at the T minus 8-minute mark. At this time, it\u2019s been determined to take an additional 20 minutes, add an additional 20 minutes to that planned hold period. The reason for this is, the crews (teams) would like to take the work-around that they have devised and at Marshall Spaceflight Center, where the Saturn V launch vehicle was developed, they have what is called a bread board or a system, which is similar to this one [in the Terminal Sequencer] and run through the sequence and insure that it does operate properly. The crew aboard the spacecraft was informed of this additional 20-minute hold. They indicated that they expected to use all three stages of this Saturn V and they were happy to have the 20-minute hold if that was going to assure that all three were going to work properly. Now continuing our hold at the T minus 8-minute mark; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re continuing in our hold at the T minus 8-minute mark. Back at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the crews (teams) there are at work on a bread board, or a mock-up of the system in question, where they\u2019re putting it through its paces, checking out the work around solution, that is, jumping (shunting) around this erroneous signal, and insuring that everything works properly. The crew is still standing by in the spacecraft, updating various systems there [and] updating their flight plan\u2014 all continuing to go well there. The [Flight Controller] crew at the Manned Spacecraft Center also is doing a considerable amount of updating. They\u2019ll be continuing to update the [launch] azimuth, and the Launch Control Center here at Kennedy Space Center, the launch team manning their consoles, [is] standing by to pick up the count when we\u2019re given the word to go. However, we\u2019re standing by… At this time, we have no word from the Marshall Spaceflight Center. We\u2019re expecting that to come within 10 to 15 minutes from this time. Now at T minus 8 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re continuing in our hold period at this time. Test Supervisor Bill Schick just announced here in the Firing Room that the hold is expected to last approximately 20 more minutes. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen [are] continuing to be replenished aboard the 3 stages of the launch vehicle at this time. That replenishing will continue during the hold period and during the final minutes of the countdown. The countdown is continuing in the hold. T-8 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. Continuing to hold at the T-minus 8-minute mark. The hold continues to be planned for approximately 5 to 7 more minutes. However, the launch window, it should be pointed out tonight, extends to 1:31 AM. Now if for any reason we could not make it in that launch window, we could recycle under our present configuration and resume our count aiming for a 9:53 PM EST launch tonight [December 7]. The window for tonight is the same as it was for last night and this morning\u2014 9:53 PM to 1:31 AM. However, the launch team appears to be optimistic with the solution they\u2019ve found in the problem and are just waiting for verification and confirmation from the testing going on at the Marshall Spaceflight Center at Huntsville, Alabama. The time now is 7 minutes after midnight. We\u2019re continuing to hold at T-8 minutes. T-8 minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control. We\u2019re at 15 minutes past the hour (12 midnight) continuing to hold at the T-minus 8-minute mark. The Supervisor just indicated that we finally pick up the clock at the T-minus 8-minute mark in 10 minutes. Planning to pick up the clock at 25 minutes past the hour. The tests being run or have been run now at the Marshall Space Flight Center and indicate that our system is good the way it has been reconfigured. All elements during this 10 minutes will be preparing their various systems to pick up the clock at the T-minus 8-minute mark. Meanwhile, at the Manned Spacecraft Center, the Flight Controllers there also [are] planning to pick up the clock. We just received a go from the Superintendent of Range Operations indicating that the range has been cleared around the new flight azimuth. The Manned Spacecraft Center Houston Flight Controllers indicate that they are go to pick up the clock at 25 minutes past the hour. Now at T-minus 8-minutes and holding; this is Kennedy Launch Control\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, we have reset the countdown to T minus eight and we are go for launch!\u201d<\/span> Apollo 17 then repeated the events of the final eight minutes of the first launch attempt. Finally, the actual launch approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Saturn Launch Control T-minus 5 minutes 40 seconds and counting. At this time, the various elements of the launch team have been reporting in to Bill Shigby, Test Supervisor, indicating that we are GO to continue. Mission director Chet Lee just verified that we are GO for launch. Safety indicates that we have a GO. First Stage Test Conductor \u2013 this is the man who has charge of those five first stage engines which will give us the lift off \u2013 has indicated a go for launch. Launch Operations Manager, Paul Donnley, also giving us a GO for launch, and finally the Launch Director, Walter Kapryan says we are GO for launch\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMark. T-minus 1-minute and counting. Now, in the final minute of the countdown \u2013 at T-minus 45-seconds, Gene Cernan will make the final guidance alignment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMark. T-minus 45 and Gene Cernan made that final guidance alignment. That\u2019s the last [pre-launch] action taken by the crew aboard the space vehicle. Now approaching the half-minute mark. T-minus 33.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT minus 30 seconds and continuing on at T minus 26 seconds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Half a minute to go again! The animal-like preparatory movements and murmurs of the Saturn now seemed familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cMark. T minus 25 [seconds]. We\u2019ll get a final guidance release at the T minus 17-second mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cT minus 17, final guidance release. We\u2019ll expect engine ignition at 8.9 seconds\u2026 10 . . . 9 . . . 8 . . . 7 . . . ignition sequence started \u2013 all engines are started\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Launch<\/strong><\/p>\n

At T minus 9 seconds, heavy, low frequency, massaging vibrations began against our backs as the five F-1 engines quickly worked up to full power at the base of the Saturn\u2019s first stage. Thousands of gallons of kerosene and liquid oxygen fed an insatiable appetite as the huge hold-down arms held us to the Earth for a final six seconds before releasing us to space. 7.5 million pounds of thrust would lift us slowly at first and then faster and faster toward orbit on a trail of brilliant flame, not visible to us but splitting open the night for everyone below. Pulsing waves of sound and searing streams of light buffeted the bodies and minds of onlookers, bringing spontaneous and unexpected hugs, cries and tears.<\/p>\n

As the S-IC engines came up to full thrust, their respective lights on the panel in front of Evans went out. Once again, a life-tipped pillar of fire, the Saturn rocket, a massive tribute to boldness and imagination, became a blazing symbol of human potential for greatness. Except for reflected light coming through the small window in front of Gene and another in the Boost Protective Cover over the hatch, I had only a vague sense of the brilliant flame beneath us. An otherwise welcome protective shield covered the left and right side square windows and the small oblong window in front of me.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLiftoff!\u201d called Parker (Fig. 5.1<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We have liftoff! The clock has started. We have you.\u201d Launch program P11 took over from PO2 and laughter came from America<\/em> over the communications loop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.1.<\/strong> Release of the hold-down arms and initiation of the lift-off at 12:33 a.m. EST, Dec. 7, 1972 after a 2 hr 40 min delay from the scheduled launch time of 09:53 p.m., Dec. 6, 1972 (NASA photo KSC-72PC-598).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a liftoff. We have a liftoff and it\u2019s lighting up the area, it\u2019s just like daylight here at Kennedy Space Center as the Saturn V is moving off the pad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fourteen, heavily vibrating seconds went by: \u201cClear the tower,\u201d reported Launch Control.<\/p>\n

\u201cYaw\u2019s complete. We\u2019re into roll, Bob.\u201d We were now communicating through Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. (Robert \u201cBob\u201d Overmyer, one of the last group of astronauts to join the Apollo team, was serving as our CAPCOM for the initial launch and Earth orbit phases of the mission.)<\/p>\n

Cernan made his calls as heavy, low frequency vibrations continued to shake us as if we were driving a pickup at high speed over the ties on a railroad bed. Immediately, the static launch simulations of the last sixteen months seemed ridiculous as the blur of vibrating needles and numbers prevented any onboard monitoring of spacecraft systems. Unlike the simulations, when we competed with flight controllers in the rapidity of problem recognition, for the next two minutes and 45 seconds of shaking, we committed ourselves fully to the distant eyes and brains of controllers as they watched the flow of telemetry on their console screens.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking great!\u201d called Overmyer. \u201cThrust good on all five engines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoll is complete! We are pitching.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow woozle!\u201d<\/p>\n

To which Evans added, \u201cOkay babe! …Let\u2019s check the [attitude] angles<\/em>\u2026 Thirty seconds. We\u2019re going up! Man, oh, man!\u201d<\/p>\n

As the rocket pitched so that we were headed east as well as upwards, we began to take advantage of the nearly 1000 miles per hour rotation of the Earth at the launch site, about six percent of the velocity we would need to attain a stable orbit. Acceleration forces gradually increased, adding to the new experiences for the two rookies.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, you\u2019re GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.2.<\/strong> The main Apollo Command Module Block II instrument control panel (pre-Apollo 11). Enlarged sections of the line drawing, which show panel numbers, are available by clicking here<\/span><\/a>. (NASA drawing).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything looks great over here, Gene,<\/em>\u201d I said as I completed as much of an instrument scan as the vibrations allowed. I particularly was monitoring cabin pressure to be sure that cabin pressure began to decrease as we passed about 14,000 feet in altitude. If this did not happen automatically, I would place the CABIN PRESSURE RELIEF valve to DUMP to solve that problem.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, stand by for MODE ONE BRAVO\u2026MARK. Mode I Bravo.\u201d At about one minute, Overmyer called the phase of Abort Mode I we would be in to escape from an impending SI-C explosion in the atmosphere using the Launch Escape System (LES). This system\u2019s rocket, called the Launch Escape Tower (LET), would pull America<\/em> rapidly away from any such problem.<\/strong> Abort Mode I had three phases, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, relating to how far downrange we would splashdown after leaving the Saturn.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. ONE BRAVO \u2013 we\u2019re GO at one minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, you\u2019re looking great. Right on the line.\u201d Overmyer referred to the \u201cline\u201d of the planned trajectory displayed on the big screen in front of the MOCR (Missions Operations Control Room) in Mission Control.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019ve got the RCS [Reaction Control System] Command,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reported to Evans and me. This ability to command the reaction control system from the spacecraft would allow Cernan to fly the launch vehicle using America\u2019s <\/em>guidance display instruments if, for some reason, the Saturn\u2019s own control system ceased to function. Prior to this point, the RCS would automatically dump its dangerous hypergolic propellants (dymethyl hydrazine and nitrous oxide) if we had an abort.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, you are feet wet \u2013 feet wet.\u201d Overmyer was telling us that after this one-minute point into launch, any abort off the Saturn with the Launch Escape System rocket, taking measured winds into consideration, would end up with a splashdown in the near-by Atlantic rather than in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge surrounding the launch site.<\/p>\n

Superposed on the heavy vibration, the forces of acceleration had gradually increased, adding to the new experience. These intense rocket and aerodynamic vibrations also continued to increase until at about one minute and 20 seconds and an altitude of about 50,000 feet we approached the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure, or \u201cmax q,\u201d on the rocket \u2013 the point where aerodynamic stresses on the Saturn V reached their maximum and began to decline due to decreasing outside air density.<\/p>\n

Evans broke in with \u201cHey, this thing shakes like a\u2026son of a gun! …One thirty, about 50 degrees [pitch].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c50 degrees. Okay, right on.<\/em> One thirty, and we are GO, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. You\u2019re looking great,\u201d replied Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026two g…two and a half g. See it quiets down after max q\u2026pushing 3 g\u2019s.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I can\u2019t hold my hand up there [on the instrument panel] any more,<\/em>\u201d Evans laughingly admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin\u2019s still looking good,<\/em>\u201d I reported to Cernan and Evans after scanning the pressure and circulation gages I monitored in the right, systems engineering position of America<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMODE I CHARLIE,\u201d Overmyer called as we passed through about 100,000 feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. ONE CHARLIE,\u201d Cernan acknowledged. \u201cTwo minutes and EDS (Emergency Detection System) [AUTO] is OFF and we are GO.\u201d We also turned off other S-IC vehicle rate indicators in preparation for S-IC shutdown and staging.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, you\u2019re GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThree g\u2019s\u2026three and a half. Stand by for inboard cutoff [of one of the S-1C\u2019s F-1 engines],<\/em>\u201d Cernan cautioned us.<\/p>\n

Two minutes after liftoff, amid the continued intense shaking and with our weight headed toward four times normal, I wondered about having the strength to lift my arms to switches if an emergency made it necessary to reconfigure fuel cells, batteries or oxygen supplies. Of course, in any possible launch abort, as soon as the abort acceleration away from the Saturn stopped, and we would be in weightless ballistic flight, both the vibration and g\u2019s would disappear. At least then I would be able to reach any switches that needed to be reached.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, you are GO for staging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInboard cut-off!\u201d Suddenly, the S-IC\u2019s first-stage center engine went out. Had two minutes and 20 seconds gone by already!?<\/p>\n

Our acceleration continued to increase on the remaining four engines.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, now hold on for staging.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by, gang,<\/em>\u201d I said, unnecessarily.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree and a half g\u2019s. \u2026 Hold on. \u2026Five seconds. \u2026Pushing four g\u2019s\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, 25 seconds after inboard engine cutoff, and at an altitude of about 220,000 feet, the four outer first-stage engines stopped, explosive bolt cutters immediately separated us from the first stage, the second stage S-II\u2019s five J-2 engines ignited, and we continued on our way again with the S-II reaching full thrust over the next few seconds. This rapid sequence took us from a positive acceleration of four times Earth\u2019s gravity (g), through a negative acceleration of 1.5 g\u2019s, as acceleration briefly ceased and the entire stack unloaded, and, finally, to a positive 1.5 g\u2019s on the second stage engines. All this happened in just over a second! That got my attention! You appreciate the lap belt and shoulder harness as checklists bounced back and forth on their lanyards.<\/p>\n

\u201cTold you to hold on! \u2026Look at that son of a gun!<\/em>\u201d Cernan was referring to the plume of fire that enveloped the rocket as our acceleration briefly ceased and actually went negative. Really spectacular even with all the windows still covered except for Cernan\u2019s direct view toward a still invisible night horizon.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d I called. \u201cI guess we got all five [S-II engines burning],\u201d looking at the status lights on the panel.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking good here\u2026looking good,\u201d Overmyer replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we saw them all [ignite] from here!\u201d I exclaimed, referring to the light coming into America<\/em> through the one window in front of Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, the thrust is GO on all five of them,\u201d Overmyer assured me. \u201cThey\u2019re running good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Three minutes and we\u2019re GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, this is smooth,<\/em>\u201d observed Evans.<\/p>\n

Being propelled into space by the five hydrogen-oxygen J-2 engines of the S-II felt like a ride on deep velvet by comparison with the raw violence of the five, kerosene-oxygen fueled F-1 engines of the S-IC. The displays and switches suddenly became recognizable again, and I could participate in monitoring the performance of the spacecraft systems that sustained us in the cabin and that might be needed immediately in the case of an abort.<\/p>\n

If the Saturn V guidance had failed on us and everything else showed the rocket performing normally, Cernan could have taken control and flown an altitude-pitch profile for the rest of the boost phase. All that would need to be done would be to switch the Launch Vehicle Guidance switch to CMC (Command Module Computer) and to key and enter Verb 46 on the computer display for program P11.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d I said. \u201cI got the Tower switches.<\/em>\u201d I referred to putting my hand on the Launch Escape Tower (LET) jettison switches that I would throw as backup if the automatic sequence did not do the job when it was soon supposed to. The LET solid rocket engine had 147,000 pounds of thrust, almost twice that of the Redstone rocket that carried Al Shepard to a sub-orbital flight in 1961. The LET, however, would be jettisoned using much smaller rocket engines when we entered the Abort MODE II (outside the atmosphere and aerodynamic forces) with speed and acceleration too great for its rockets to be capable of pulling the Command Module away from a failing Saturn. After jettisoning the Tower, we were above enough of the atmosphere so that we could depend on the Service Propulsion System (SPS) of our spacecraft for any necessary maneuvers in case of an abort.<\/p>\n

But first, the short, cylindrical \u201cskirt\u201d between the S-II and the S-IC stages of the Saturn V had to be separated for its fall into the Atlantic. \u201cOkay. We do have skirt sep,\u201d Cernan reported about 25 seconds after staging and S-II ignition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere goes the Tower,\u201d radioed Cernan. \u201cOh, there she goes!\u201d At three minutes and 20 seconds, we had reached about 320,000 feet in altitude and 5590 miles per hour in velocity. When the tower left, it pulled the protective cover off the Command Module and its windows and suddenly the bright light of the LET\u2019s jettison rockets filled the America\u2019s<\/em> cabin. Now, Ron and I could finally see outside and experience the decreasing glow from the flame of the Saturn V rocket plume diffusing through the atmosphere. Prior to jettisoning the Tower, Cernan\u2019s one window directly in front of him was supposed to give him a view of the Earth\u2019s horizon in case he ever had to fly the spacecraft without computer guidance during a launch abort. Not likely to happen with an essentially invisible night horizon but something that he thought he was prepared to do if necessary. Also, at this point, with little atmosphere remaining outside, I could activate the glycol cooling system that was dependent on radiating heat to space.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re in MODE II.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. MODE II,\u201d confirmed Cernan. Mode II would require America\u2019s<\/em> independent separation and orientation to entry attitude for parachute deployment and splashdown in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe steering [guidance input] has converged. The CMC (Command Module Computer) is GO. You\u2019re going right down the pike, Seventeen!\u201d This information confirmed that, if necessary, we could continue to rely on America\u2019s<\/em> computer to fly the booster or perform an abort and entry sequence.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. I just confirmed guidance [here].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd [pull] the ELS SEP (Escape Launch System Separation) circuit breakers, when you get a chance there, Gene,<\/em>\u201d Evans reminded Cernan. Those breakers were on the panel to Cernan\u2019s left. With the LET gone, obviously, we did not need to have power to the system as a whole.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. I got the ELS SEP circuit breakers. And, we\u2019ve seen it all \u2013 ignition, staging, and tower.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Got you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the way, the cabin [has] sealed,<\/em>\u201d I assured Cernan and Evans after watching my cabin pressure gage and got a nervous laugh out of both.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Four minutes and we\u2019re GO here, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. We\u2019re going round the room.\u201d Overmyer referred to a formal process that Flight Directors, in this case Gerald Griffin, conducted prior to various critical points of mission commitment, receiving a verbal \u201cGO\u201d from each Lead Flight Controller. \u201cLooks GO here. You\u2019re looking real good, Gene. Right down the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c21 degrees [pitch]. We\u2019re MODE II, Ron,<\/em>\u201d Cernan remarked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, 04:30 and we\u2019re still GO on board, Overmyer reported. \u201cLet me tell you, this night launch is something to behold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. H [altitude] and H-dot [altitude change rate] are good,<\/em>\u201d I observed, looking at a cue card graph of those two parameters versus time from launch and comparing with the data displayed on the computer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ll be able to pick up any horizon,<\/em>\u201d Cernan commented to Evans and me. If there was no other information on the pitch and roll of America<\/em> during launch, a very unlikely set of failures, Cernan had trained in the simulator for the possibility of flying the rocket with hand-controller inputs and using the horizon as seen out the window (#2) directly in front of him that had a reference line for guidance. The window (#4) in front of me had the same potential view and Cernan\u2019s comment related to such an eventuality.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,<\/em>\u201d I responded, \u201cit\u2019s [either] too dark [out there] or too light in here [to dark adapt].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let\u2019s keep on looking. I got some stars out the right, but I don\u2019t see [a horizon line].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFive minutes, Geno, and you\u2019re GO down here. You\u2019re looking great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that? Okay. <\/em>Okay, Robert,\u201d replied Cernan, caught a little off guard. \u201cWe\u2019re GO here at five [minutes].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cComing up on S-IVB to COI (Contingency Orbit Insertion),<\/em> Evans warned. This meant that if the S-II quit on us, the third stage S-IVB had enough energy to get us into a stable orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys believe me about that S-I staging now? <\/em>said the guy who had been through it before on Apollo 10.<\/p>\n

I acknowledged with a laugh and said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe how smooth! I can\u2019t believe how smooth [this S-II burns].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let\u2019s keep this burn. We got a long way to go. We\u2019re only halfway there [to orbit].<\/em>\u201d As if we had much to say about the performance of the Saturn V.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. Your [projected S-IVB cutoff and orbit insertion] times are nominal. Level Sense Arm (a sensor that determines \u2018level\u2019 relative to our eventual orbit) at 8 plus 36; S-II shutdown at 9 plus 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the cue card checklist, Evans said, \u201cComing up on [SPS] gimbal motors [checks].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I forget anything, yet, Ron?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re still MODE II\u2026<\/em>\u201d While Evans kept a close watch on the checklists, I kept scanning all the status indicators in front of me dealing with environmental controls, fuel cells, batteries, propulsion tank pressures, and communications.<\/p>\n

Six minutes. \u201cStandby for S-IVB to COI capability. MARK. S-IVB to COI capability,\u201d noted Overmyer. At this point, if the S-II stage quit, we could ignite the S-IVB and have enough energy for a \u201ccontingency orbit insertion\u201d from which we could have a controlled entry to a planned recovery area and ship.<\/p>\n

Cernan acknowledged, \u201cRoger, S-IVB to COI capability. We\u2019re GO at six. \u2026Okay, let\u2019s check the gimbal motors [of America\u2019s main rocket engine, the SPS].<\/em> After I confirmed the four GIMBLE MOTOR switches were in the START-ON position, he and Evans ran through those checks, he reported, \u201cOkay Bob. We\u2019ve got four good [gimbal] motors and we\u2019re GO at 6:20.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. And, Seventeen, we copied the gimbals and watched them and they looked good.\u201d These gimbals would allow us to use the SPS to steer into orbit if the S-IVB failed late in its burn.<\/p>\n

Then Evans said, incredulously, after looking at the g-meter, \u201cOne g? Just like sitting on the pad, isn\u2019t it. That\u2019s all there is to her.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I was watching hydrogen tank 3 that fed the Service Module\u2019s fuel cells, saying, \u201cOkay, our [gage] calibration on that tank changed a little bit again, apparently. \u2026[Showing]\u2026Down to 90%.<\/em>\u201d I was hoping that it was only a calibration variation and not an actual leak caused by the stresses of launch and staging. Mission Control had telemetry data on the status of the tank and would have alerted us if they saw a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, MARK. S-IVB to orbit capability,\u201d was Overmyer\u2019s call at six minutes, forty-five seconds. This meant that after a premature second stage shutdown, the single J-2 engine of the S-IVB could deliver us to a stable, long term Earth orbit from which we could conduct a disappointing, but still productive Earth-orbit mission of observation and photography. \u201cAnd we\u2019d like OMNI [antenna] Delta, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. You\u2019ve got it.\u201d In the midst of rockets moving us toward the Moon, the routine of space flight communications continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, seven minutes, six degrees [pitch]. How does that sound<\/em>?\u201d Cernan asked Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That\u2019s good. \u2026We\u2019re a half a mile high [relative to plan].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeven minutes, Bob. We\u2019re looking good on board.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I glad I took my hand off that abort handle<\/em>,\u201d Cernan declared, referring back to the hold we had at 30 seconds before launch when his left side Thrust Vector Control T-handle functioned as an instant abort trigger if twisted counter-clockwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cMan!<\/em>\u201d Evans exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo am I! I\u2019ll tell you,<\/em>\u201d I agreed while we both laughed at the historic irony we would have experienced if Cernan had lost his nerve during the initial uncertainty of the hold on the Pad.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We got to get through this one [S-II cutoff] and then through staging. Stand by for inboard [J-2] cutoff].<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Inboard [scheduled] at 07:41,<\/em> Evans responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019re [at a] g and a half. Stand by.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have inboard [S-II engine] cut-off (IECO).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. Inboard [cut-off] on time.\u201d The early termination of thrust on the center engine of the five J-2 engines in the S-II stage was the result of a major vibration (pogo[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>) problem with the inboard J-2 on the Apollo 13 launch and a lesser one on other missions as remedial engineering and operations began to take effect.[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> The structure holding that engine came very close to failing at the end of the Apollo 13 S-II burn. No certain fix of this problem appeared possible so the conservative approach was to shut it down early and to also shutdown the inboard engine of the first stage early as well, just in case. The other four engines would burn to propellant depletion, giving us most of the energy, but not the acceleration, that five engines would have provided.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, and she pitches up just like the simulator,<\/em>\u201d commented Cernan after inboard J-2 cutoff. Cernan\u2019s comment illustrates how good the simulator models had become by the time we started training for Apollo 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sure does,<\/em>\u201d confirmed Evans.<\/p>\n

As I was trying to reach something, Evans said, \u201cIs that hard to reach, Jack?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Why don\u2019t you take it out. I can\u2019t quite [reach it at a] g and a half,<\/em>\u201d I joked, referring back to the problems of lifting an arm at 4 g\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cEight minutes, and we are GO!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen. You\u2019re looking great!<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by for a PU (propellant utilization ratio) shift,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reminded us.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I think that was it,<\/em>\u201d Evans confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron. Level Sense ARM will be at 36 [8 minutes and 36 seconds].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You are GO for staging.\u201d If Mission Control had seen a significant problem in the third stage S-IVB, we would have begun preparations for an abort off that stage and a controlled splashdown in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Bob. We are GO for staging up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle over a g,<\/em>\u201d Evans called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We got to get through this one [staging]. Coming in\u2026 We\u2019re Level Sense ARM, now.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have Level Sense ARM at this time, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Bob. Level Sense ARM\u2026 Okay, Ron. Our next thing will be stand by for Mode IV, and we\u2019ll have staging \u2013 I\u2019ll call it out to you. And little S-IVB \u2013 burn, baby, burn!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNine minutes, Bob, and Seventeen is GO!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen. You\u2019re GO here. \u2026Stand by for Mode IV capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cS-II cutoff!<\/p>\n

\u201cMARK. Mode IV capability, and we copy cut-off.\u201d Mode IV meant that we would use America\u2019s <\/em>main rocket, the Service Propulsion System (SPS), to achieve an orbit from which there was time to select an optimum splashdown location.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Mode IV. And we do have S-IVB ignition!\u201d In another rapid sequence, outboard engine shutdown and staging of the S-II and ignition of the S-IVB third stage came as planned. Our altitude was actually slightly above the planned orbit of 92.6 nautical miles (about 556,000 feet), but we needed for the S-IVB to add about 2500 feet per second to our velocity. These milestones passed in a space of five seconds around nine minutes and 20 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We see it, and the thrust is looking good on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, did you see that glow go past us! <\/em>Evans shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cGee! …Yes. We\u2019re right in the flame!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw that one, too, Bob,\u201d Cernan exclaimed. \u201cYes, that\u2019s what the Titan used to do, used to fly through the flame of that thing. \u2026Let\u2019s press on here. We got a lot to do. We\u2019re Mode IV?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I answered, wondering if he had been paying attention to his own and Overmyer\u2019s call-outs.<\/p>\n

Cernan continued to state the obvious. \u201cOkay. We\u2019re at a little less than \u00bd g.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLess than \u00bd g, sir.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen,\u201d Overmyer interrupted, \u201cthe [S-IVB and on-board guidance] steering has converged, and the CMC [Command Module Computer] is GO [if needed]. You\u2019re looking great!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d Cernan replied. \u201cThe CMC is GO \u2013 10 minutes and Seventeen is GO on board.\u201d<\/p>\n

The S-IVB purred quietly away beneath us with every indication that it would serve us well in the long acceleration from 16,560 miles per hour we would have in a 106-mile high orbit around the Earth to the 23,335 miles per hour we would need to escape the Earth and ultimately be captured by the Moon\u2019s gravity. Making \u201ca trip to the Moon\u201d was looking more and more likely.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026[S-IVB burn] starts a little bit low, but not bad,<\/em>\u201d Evans observed, watching the altitude readouts on America\u2019s<\/em> computer and comparing them with the cue card numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You are GO for orbit. \u2026GO for orbit,\u201d Overmyer relayed at ten minutes after Mission Control had analyzed the telemetry from the S-IVB. Less than two minutes left on the Saturn, and we now knew that the chances were very good that there would be nothing to keep us from making it to Earth orbit. Orbit insertion approached with increasing anticipation. For Evans and me, this would be our first real exposure to space! We had earned our gold astronaut pins several minutes earlier as an altitude of 50 miles went past on the S-II second stage, however, true space flight would be very different.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are kind words, Robert. We\u2019re GO for orbit, here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood show, Gene!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, coming up on [10:]30, Ron. Let\u2019s double check everything.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[At] 30 <\/em>\u2013 347 degrees [pitch] \u2013 23.9 [thousands of miles per hour]. Okay. \u2026We\u2019re a little bit high [in altitude], <\/em>Evans continued to report. <\/em>The pitch number he called out related to being upside down and nearing level flight of 360\/0 degrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t read (sight on) a star if I had to right now,<\/em>\u201d Cernan observed, looking out window #4 in front of me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t either,<\/em>\u201d I agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cVelocity is a little high,<\/em>\u201d Evans noted, meaning that the S-IVB\u2019s J-2 engine thrust was slightly greater than expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. 10:30, and we\u2019re GO,\u201d Cernan reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen. You look great,\u201d confirmed Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, cut off at VI [insertion velocity] plus 100 [fps],<\/em>\u201d Cernan told Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll catch that.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure don\u2019t want to hit this handle,<\/em>\u201d Cernan commented, referring to the hand-controller that could start an abort sequence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree!<\/em>\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMode IV right now, <\/em>Cernan reminded himself, again. \u201cComing up on eleven minutes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Evans acknowledged. \u201cEleven minutes and I\u2019m 344 degrees [in pitch].<\/em>\u201d This pitch readout was relative to 90 degrees pitch up on the launch pad; however, we had rolled 180 degrees to about 270 degrees pitch during the first portion of the S-I burn. \u201cThat\u2019s right on the money. \u2026How\u2019s the cabin, Jack?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin\u2019s great,<\/em>\u201d referring to internal air pressure and no sign of leaks.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Velocity\u2019s a little bit high and H-dot\u2019s [rate of change in altitude] a little bit negative,<\/em>\u201d Evans said, monitoring the computer display of altitude rate of change (H-dot) versus altitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cH-dot\u2019s a little\u2026bit low.<\/em>\u201d The rocket\u2019s guidance was taking out some of the excess altitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, the [manual S-IVB] cut-off is VI [insertion velocity] plus 100 [feet per second], <\/em>Cernan reminded himself and Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cVI plus 100. Okay, I\u2019ll count you out,<\/em>\u201d replied Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to hit the [button]. \u2026That\u2019s all there is to it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEleven minutes and we are GO,\u201d Cernan reported to Houston.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. And cut-off will be at 11 plus 47, 11 plus 47.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans again reported, \u201cH-dot\u2019s a little high. But that\u2019s all right. \u2026500 feet [per second velocity] to go.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c11:30 and we\u2019re GO here. And standing by [for cut-off].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. Cut-off time is still holding good \u2013 11 plus 47.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere she goes!<\/em>\u201d Evans could not contain himself as the S-IVB J-2 engine shutdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cCut-off at 42!\u201d Cutoff occurred nine seconds earlier that the normal time indicated in the Launch Checklist, reflecting higher booster performance than expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand. Cut-off at 42,\u201d Overmyer replied more calmly than Cernan\u2019s reporting.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [copy] 25596, Ron.<\/em>\u201d Cernan read out our orbital insertion velocity (VIO) in feet per second from the Command Module Computer (CMC) display. This was about 100 feet per second less than expected but nothing to be concerned about.<\/p>\n

\u201c25596. \u2026Okay, KEY RELEASE\u2026<\/em>\u201d This action on the computer Keyboard gave us its computation of our apogee, perigee and TFF (time from re-entry).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking at 93.1 by 89.5 [nautical mile orbit apogee and perigee],\u201d Cernan read off our computer display.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. We\u2019re copying the DSKY (Display and Keyboard) [from telemetry],\u201d confirmed Overmyer. \u201c\u2026And the local horizontal maneuver has initiated [by the S-IVB].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Houston\u2026it looks like the [S-IVB] tank pressures are venting [going down].\u201d This relatively small amount of venting keeps the tank pressures within safe limits until we would restart the rocket about three hours later for a trip to the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. The Range Safety [rocket destruct system] is SAFE and\u2026you\u2019re in a GO orbit, nominal.\u201d This destruct system obviously was not needed once we were in a stable orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. GO orbit, nominal. Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Earth Orbit<\/strong><\/p>\n

The S-IVB cut-off five seconds earlier than Houston predicted, giving us a slightly elliptical orbit of 107 by 103 miles. Even though we watched the computer displays and mission timer count us down to S-IVB shutdown, sudden weightlessness came as a complete surprise. No weight! Weightlessness no longer existed as a fleeting memory of a childhood carnival ride or the few tens of seconds during parabolic training flights in a KC-135 \u201cvomit comet\u201d. Now the sensation went on and on!<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, where did that panel screw come from?\u201d Every object not fastened down or stowed floated by, headed eventually for the screen in front of the cabin air intake fan in the Lower Equipment Bay (LEB) to the left of the center couch. Moving from place to place by slight finger or hand pressure on a strut or panel felt like swimming without any water. How could anyone have ever called doing this outside the spacecraft \u201cspace walking\u201d? Only cautions concerning motion sickness given by others who had been there before and the demands of the post-insertion checklist kept me from playing with the tumbling abandon of a child. In fact, after some movement around the now much larger useful space of the Command Module cabin, I noticed that I had a slight headache and very slight \u201cstomach awareness\u201d similar to my feelings after an hour or so of heavy aerobatics in a T-38. I found that if I stopped moving for a few minutes, these symptoms would go away, and I could start up again. Repeating this procedure several times over the next few hours seemed to gradually provide some immunity against any significant adaptation discomfort. Cernan and Evans would appear to be not so fortunate.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Seventeen, I\u2019ll be unable to update that AOS [Acquisition Of Signal] time, but 52:20 is looking good.\u201d Overmyer referred here to when we would regain communications after we lost sight of the Vanguard<\/em> communications ship on our way over Africa. Vanguard<\/em>, stationed in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida, had supported launch communications.<\/p>\n

At this point, I asked Overmyer, \u201cHouston, can you confirm MAIN BUS TIE A\/C \u2013 OFF? …I\u2019ve been carrying very low amps on the BAT BUS, and I did not see a drop. I\u2019m carrying about 2 amps now. Volts are 30.5.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJack, go ahead and take the B\/C MOTOR switch OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s OFF. And I confirm that one [shows OFF].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we think it\u2019s the EDS POWER switch (Emergency Detection System) and the Fuel Cell\u2026switch that are drawing the current that you\u2019re seeing there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That could well be,\u201d I replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack, we\u2019re going to lose you in about one minute off of Vanguard<\/em> here and see you at 52:20.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re pressing [with the Checklist items] and thanks, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan inserted. \u201cEverything is looking GO on board. Everything\u2019s stable. We can see the [S-IVB] APS [Auxiliary Propulsion System] firing and our attitudes look good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGeno, everything is in good shape down here. The booster\u2019s in good shape; you\u2019re looking good; and their [confirmed] AOS time is 52:20 as I gave you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got that, babe. We\u2019ll see you coming around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood show, babe,\u201d Overmyer repeated. \u201cA little late [liftoff] but a good show!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOutstanding ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is interesting to note that Apollo 17\u2019s launch vehicle, Saturn 512, had no significant departures from its expected performance.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> The fact that the Apollo Program was near its conclusion makes this nearly perfect performance it made more remarkable. The continued dedication of the thousands of American workers who were still required for this single mission encourages me to this day.<\/p>\n

[There have been many descriptions written about the night launch of Apollo 17. One of my favorites is that penned by my good friend and co-editor of this diary, the late author and political humorist William Mellberg.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> Mellberg remembers the launch of Apollo 17 as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a collective and audible gasp from the crowd as the powerful F-1 engines of the rocket\u2019s first stage suddenly came to life with a blinding light that took one\u2019s breath away. It was an incredible sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sound finally hit us as the vehicle cleared the tower. First, there was a \u201cboom.\u201d That was the noise from ignition. Then there was a rumble, not a roar, as the Saturn V slowly rose from the pad amidst clouds of steam and smoke produced by the water used to cool the pad as it was blasted by the heat of the engines. I thought I could feel that heat. I certainly felt the ground shaking. And, as Tom Stafford\u2019s neighbor had told us, we could hear the VAB rattling behind us as the sound bounced off its walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the Moon Rocket picked up speed and altitude, the sky grew even brighter as the light from the engines rose above us like the Sun\u2014 a long tongue of flame trailing behind it. What a light and sound show! At the 1-minute mark, the sky was becoming dark again as the Saturn V flew higher and farther away. It now looked more like a comet with its long, bright tail. We could also hear the crew over the loudspeakers. \u2018One-thirty and we are go,\u2019 Gene Cernan reported from the spacecraft. When the first stage engines shut down after two and one-half minutes, we could see the nozzles glowing bright red and still trailing smoke. Meanwhile, the second stage engines had ignited, and they produced a steady, white light that grew smaller and less intense as the vehicle picked up speed and distance. Soon, all we could see was a \u2018star\u2019 that finally faded out of sight as the Moon Rocket headed out of range.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow! I was awestruck. So was my Dad. So was everyone around us. We were all amazed by what we had just witnessed. Directly in front of us, steam was still rising from Pad A. The thunderous sound of the Moon Rocket had been replaced by the noisy chatter of the crowd\u2014 recounting what they had just seen. Most people were too busy talking to hear the ongoing coverage from the public address system. Apollo 17 was approaching the coast of Africa as we headed back toward the buses and the ride back to the Visitors Information Center. No one was going away disappointed that night. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another favorite comes from Gunter Wendt[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> who viewed the launch after he had left the White Room with the three of us strapped up inside America<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026shortly after midnight, the Saturn 5 blasted into the blackness. As the vehicle cleared the tower, the flame seemed much more intense than anything I had ever seen. By the time it was 10 degrees above the horizon, the entire sky lit up in an odd greenish yellow glow. It was like daylight on another planet. \u2026For one last time, I was engulfed in the crackling concussion and felt the ground tremble under my feet. And for one last time, three Americans departed Earth for a trip to the moon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Kelley, Grumman Aircraft Corporation\u2019s Chief Engineer for Lunar Module development, provided an engineer\u2019s, manager\u2019s and poet\u2019s impression of the launch.[8]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe dazzlingly bright yellow-white plume spilled out from beneath the Saturn booster and, as the black-trimmed white cylinder cleared the tower, expanded until it looked like the rocket was riding astride the Sun. The nighttime darkness vanished in the harsh light of a klieg-light white dawn, showing the flat expanse of dunes, wetlands, and tropical scrub growth to the far horizons. I gaped open mouthed at this manmade wonder, and forgot about the oncoming shock of sound until it hit my ears with staccato fury and sent earth tremors up my legs. Then as we stared in wonder, the Sun slowly transformed into a brilliant star and the shrinking rocket became less distinct in its glare. For several minutes our eyes were riveted skyward, until the sound bombardment faded to a distant rumble and the departing moonship was a dimming star. Darkness reclaimed its rightful reign over southern Florida, but the curving trail of fluffy white exhaust cloud, luminous in the light of the target Moon, attested to the reality of the miracle we had all witnessed.\u201d]<\/p>\n

My own memories of the daytime Saturn launches for Apollo Missions 8-15 are dominated by the slowly increasing brilliance of the exhaust flames and the pulsating waves of sound that buffeted deeply into my stomach and lungs while my shirt and tie moved back and forth as if a desert wind were blowing \u2013 and flocks of water birds rising from the surrounding wetlands and estuaries in temporary response to the passing disturbance. (See Mother\u2019s diary, Appendix I for December 7.)<\/p>\n

First Look From Space<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re hanging with you here [with the communications]. Looks like you\u2019re hanging in Vanguard<\/em> a little longer than we expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

About five minutes after cut-off, we began the necessary 36-minute, no-communications period. While now loosely strapped on to my couch, I read through the Insertion and Systems items in the Launch Checklist that served to reconfigure switches and circuit breakers that related to various abort and contingency possibilities during launch while preparing America\u2019s<\/em> systems for our two orbits of the Earth before beginning to anticipate the TransLunar Insertion burn of the S-IVB. As I read, Cernan and sometimes Evans would confirm the changes from the launch switch and circuit breaker configurations. I kept close watch in order to be sure what I called out was actually done, as Cernan had an Apollo 10 history of switch position confusion and a well-known susceptibility to becoming distracted.<\/p>\n

I first turned past the Checklist page that gave the emergency procedures for using small Reaction Control rockets needed to de-orbit if there was an inadvertent separation of America from its Service Module just after orbit insertion and while the abort systems were still armed. Back on the main Checklist, I confirmed that the four SPS Gimble Motors were switched OFF on Panel 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cSECS PYRO ARM, two, SAFE.<\/em>\u201d<\/span> These switches arm and safe the Sequential Events Control System, that is, the system that controls the explosive (pyrotechnics) separation events over which the crew had control versus those events related to the Saturn S-IC and S-II stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cPYRO ARM, two of them are safe.<\/em>\u201d<\/span> replied Cernan, hesitantly as the adrenaline of the launch faded.<\/p>\n

\u201cSECS LOGIC, two, OFF.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo LOGIC are OFF.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breaker SECS ARM, two, open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSECS ARM circuit breakers are open.<\/em>\u201d<\/span> These actions involving the SECS and pyros avoided any unplanned vehicle or S-IVB separations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breaker DIRECT ULLAGE, two, open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDIRECT ULLAGE breakers are open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breaker ELS\/CM-SM SEP[ARATION], two, verify open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cELS\/CM-SM SEP breakers are open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breaker FLT\/PL VENT, open.<\/em>\u201d<\/span> This action removed power from the Flight Pressure Leveling Vent now that cabin pressure had reached flight levels of about 5.7 psi.<\/p>\n

\u201cFLT\/PL VENT breaker is open.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMAIN BUS TIE, two, OFF. \u2026I have turned them OFF,<\/em>\u201d<\/span> I told Evans and Cernan as these switches were on the panel in front of me.<\/p>\n

\u201cTVC SERVO POWER, two, OFF.<\/em>\u201d Power to Thrust Vector Control Servos of the Service Propulsion System was no longer necessary now that the possibility of a launch abort was gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cTVC SERVO POWER, two, are OFF,<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS FUNCTION, OFF,<\/em>\u201d I read to Cernan so that the Emergency Management System would be safe and prevented an inadvertent separation from the S-IVB.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTRANS[LATION] CONTROL POWER, OFF,<\/em>\u201d I continued with the immediate tasks to safe and reconfigure the CSM for orbital flight, prior to preparation for the TransLunar Injection burn of the S-IVB.<\/p>\n

\u201cTRANS CONTROL POWER is OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cROT[ATIONAL] CONTROL POWER, DIRECT, TWO, OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re OFF.<\/em>\u201d These actions meant that CSM thrusters would not fire if we accidentally hit the hand controllers when we unstrapped to move around the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cROT[ATIONAL] CONTR PWR DIRECT, TWO, OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBMAG MODE, THREE, [to] RATE 2.<\/em>\u201d The Body Mounted Attitude Gyros provided control gyros for the backup Stabilization Control System and this action placed them in a normal control rate.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, RATE 2.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCM RCS LOGIC, OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCM RCS LOGIC is OFF.<\/em>\u201d Now, the limited capacity Command Module Reaction Control thrusters were off line and if we needed thrusters for some reason, we would activate the Service Module thrusters.<\/p>\n

\u201cLAUNCH VEHICLE STAGE SWITCH, OFF, verify.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Yes, sir. It is OFF!<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, emphasizing that we certainly did not want to leave behind the S-IVB just yet, with TLI still ahead of us, not to mention that the Lunar Module Challenger<\/em> was still in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. ROTATIONAL HAND CONTROLLERS 1 AND 2, LOCKED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re LOCKED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCABIN PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE, TWO, NORMAL and LATCHED.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNORMAL and LATCHED,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reported after having to reach down to the left of his knees for these controls<\/p>\n

\u201cREPRESS PACKAGE VALVE, OFF.<\/em>\u201d This valve was located out of our reach from the couches in the Lower Equipment Bay (LEB).<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to have to loosen up here and get that,<\/em>\u201d Evans announced as he began to move into the Lower Equipment Bay in order to access the various ECS (Environmental Control System) controls.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d I acknowledge. \u201cI\u2019ll hold that one. \u2026Circuit Breaker [ECS XDUCER PRESS GRP 2 MNA \u2013 CLOSE] That\u2019s me,<\/em>\u201d I said as I had to twist and reach a circuit breaker panel to my right. \u201c\u2026Okay, let me<\/em> [twist over to get that]\u2026<\/em><\/span>\u201d This action put power to the Group 2 Transducers of the Environmental Control System on to Main Bus A.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoo, Hoo,<\/em>\u201d Ron exclaimed as he became unrestrained by the couch straps. \u201cHere we go<\/em> [down into the LEB. You said REPRESS PACKAGE\u2026].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. <\/em>\u201cThat\u2019s that [ECS transducer]<\/span> circuit breaker,<\/em>\u201d I announced, having finally loosened my straps enough to reach down and to my right.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, okay,<\/em>\u201d responded Cernan. \u201cThat\u2019s pushing that in there.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019d forgotten all about that,<\/em>\u201d I admitted. \u201cI should have warned you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d my two crew mates responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something [that was added]\u2026since the [CSM vacuum] chamber [test], I guess,<\/em>\u201d I explained, referring to some, now forgotten incident in a test of the CSM environmental and electrical systems some months before. I suspect that I had worked alone with the test engineers for some time to resolve a problem that arose during the test.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of these actions changed our spacecraft control authority from what launch aborts might require to what would be needed for orbiting the Earth prior to preparing for the upcoming TransLunar Insertion (TLI) burn of the S-IVB that would send us to the Moon.<\/p>\n

Once we had the spacecraft Environmental Control System properly configured, Cernan announced, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to loosen up, get out of my helmet here and pick up\u2026<\/em>\u201d Cernan was interrupted in mid-sentence, as some high delta-P space flatulence escaped into the combined suit oxygen circuit before any helmets could be taken off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoops, excuse me, gang. That was me.<\/em>\u201d I confessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow! That\u2019s a good one.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, man!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a goodie!<\/em>\u201d Evans agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill have to get out of my helmet<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoo. Whoo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill have to get out of my helmet,<\/em>\u201d Cernan insisted.<\/p>\n

Helmets and gloves finally came off and were stowed in their bags ready for use if an emergency so required.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Public Affairs\u2019 announcements had shifted to Houston:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Control at 16 minutes 45seconds after liftoff. We\u2019ve confirmed Apollo 17 is in a near nominal orbit. The crew reported an orbit of about 93.5 by 89.5 [miles] based on their onboard [computer] calculations, and computations on the ground show that we\u2019re very close to the nominal ninety-mile nautical mile orbit.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result of the late liftoff, the TransLunar Injection will be a little bit earlier than the flight plan ground elapsed time but we don\u2019t have an update on this time yet. We expect that it will be on the order of 8 to l0 minutes early. We\u2019ll update that time as we get a later update. We would expect that the time of arrival at the Moon will be approximately the same as the flight plan time in terms of Greenwich Mean Time. The ground elapsed time will be somewhat earlier, and we expect that there will be clock update \u2013 a so-called clock update \u2013 at some point where we make the clocks in Mission Control and aboard the spacecraft agree with the ground elapsed time that they would be showing in the flight plan. The net effect will be that we\u2019ll arrive at the Moon in a shorter ground elapsed time \u2013 in effect about 2 hours 40 minutes earlier than the flight plan would show, but at the same Greenwich mean time or local time here on Earth, that \u2013 that we would have had had we lifted off on time. We are in effect making up the time by speeding up the arrival at the Moon. The spacecraft at Translunar Injection will be going somewhat faster than a nominal liftoff (sic) TransLunar Injection. Consequently, it will arrive at the Moon going slightly faster, and also somewhat earlier, about 2 hours 40 minutes earlier in terms of ground elapsed time. This will also mean that the lunar orbit insertion will require a bit more energy to slow the spacecraft down and get it into lunar orbit. These details of course, will all be worked out in the time that we have before our lunar orbit insertion. This is Apollo Control.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to dealing with all the Checklist items, we kept an eye on the tank pressure readouts from the S-IVB, as we did not have Mission Control available to alert us if a problem was developing. If the pressure in the liquid oxygen tank became more than 36 psi relative to the liquid hydrogen tank; or the pressure in the liquid hydrogen tank became more 26 psi relative to the liquid oxygen tank; or, if the liquid oxygen tank pressure exceeded 50 psi, an emergency separation from the rocket would have been required.<\/p>\n

Just prior to the space flatulence issue, I had called out for Cernan to \u201c\u2026install the COAS.<\/em>\u201d This Crew Optical Alignment System would be put in Window 2. The COAS was a bore-sighted optical sighting device, aligned to the x-axis of the spacecraft, and would guide Evans\u2019 maneuvers to dock with the Challenger<\/em> once we had successfully completed TLI.<\/p>\n

As Cernan installed the COAS, Evans had gone to work in the Lower Equipment Bay, preparing to conduct star sightings (P52) that would be used for a fine, inertial space alignment of America\u2019s<\/em> guidance platform.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, you guys care if I turn some lights on down there so I can see?<\/em>\u201d Evans asked, unnecessarily.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead. Turn them on,<\/em>\u201d Cernan answered.<\/p>\n

Getting back to the Checklist, I asked myself, \u201cOkay, what do we do down here,<\/em>\u201d referring to the lower third of the Checklist page.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Jack, [did you] pick up something [on the Checklist] before the COAS?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

Before I could answer the question, a Master Alarm occurred, with an accompanying yellow Caution and Warning light. \u201cWhat is that? <\/em>I asked as I did not have the C&W panel in my field of view.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO2 HIGH FLOW!<\/em>\u201d Evans answered, looking at a second C&W panel in the LEB.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO2 FLOW,<\/em>\u201d repeated Cernan. \u201cOkay, that\u2019s because I\u2019m going to have to pull the [REPRESS PACKAGE valve].<\/em>\u201d Actually, this was not the problem, as will be explained by Mission Control, later.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you\u2019ve got to change it (the REPRESS PACKAGE VALVE) [to OFF]<\/span>,<\/em>\u201d I confirmed.<\/p>\n

After this was done, Evans asked us, \u201cYou got your helmet off?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d we both answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to have to pull the REPRESS,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, \u201cor the\u2026,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I interrupted before he could finish, wanting him to do what I had called out earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you cycle the SUIT CIRCUIT RETURN [VALVES],<\/em>\u201d Evans continued, meaning to take these valves to OPEN, reacting to the fact that we now had our helmets off. This action would be called out later in the Checklist, but was appropriate with the helmets off.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen it. Open it,<\/em>\u201d Cernan ordered, to which Evans responded, \u201cI\u2019ll go down and close the\u2026[I mean] purge the cabin pressure.<\/em>\u201d It is not clear what Evans meant by this, unless he thought at that point that the O2 HIGH FLOW indication might have meant that the cabin pressure was higher than normal.<\/p>\n

After all this distraction, Cernan asked me, \u201cDid you give me something before the COAS?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026oh yes, the REPRESS PACKAGE VALVE, OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Let me get REPRESS PACKAGE VALVE, OFF.<\/em>\u201d Finally, I thought. Then, he added, \u201cLook at those aps\u2026 [I mean] that atmosphere.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd let me know when you get [the] COAS,<\/em>\u201d I requested.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Stand by.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I checked it [off] inadvertently here [on the Checklist.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. No problem,<\/em>\u201d replied Cernan. \u201cI\u2019m not going to get the COAS until I get my helmet out of the way.\u2026We got the major things here. Ron can work on the optics, and I\u2019ll get the\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans broke in with, \u201cCouldn\u2019t we get the cabin pressure, [that is], EMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE at BOTH?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what did you want to do, Ron?<\/em>\u201d I responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut the EMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE at BOTH.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, do that,<\/em>\u201d I answered after going ahead in the Checklist to where it gave the HELMETS OFF configuration. \u201cThen we\u2019ll take our helmets and gloves off,<\/em>\u201d quoting the Checklist, facetiously, since we had already done so.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [do that],<\/em>\u201d I added, \u201cand SUIT CIRCUIT RETURN VALVE [you have already done].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans proceeded to go about his work with a combination of chuckling and singing that we had become use to. Then he observed, \u201cI keep floating up to the top of the tunnel [just above the optics station].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?<\/em>\u201d This comment seemed to puzzle Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s because we\u2019re in ORB RATE [attitude control],<\/em>\u201d I reminded them. \u201cDon\u2019t forget.<\/em>\u201d This meant that the spacecraft and S-IVB combination were pitching down continuously to maintain a level attitude relative to the Earth\u2019s surface while Evans continued on as a separate object in space without pitching.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a ride that booster is!<\/em>\u201d I mused out loud.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Cernan agreed, \u201cisn\u2019t that something?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans chimed in with, \u201cMan that is a ride!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the best thing to do, Jack, while you\u2019re in the suit, is to stay in the seat, loosely buckled.<\/em>\u201d Cernan\u2019s knack for unnecessary advice had arrived in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir. \u2026What\u2019s that?<\/span><\/em>\u201d I asked, startled by the strident sound of a MASTER ALARM. \u201cOkay, I don\u2019t know what that was. That was a spurious alarm. There was no caution and warning with that.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me check my amps [electrical current levels]. Checking amps, gang.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are good [normal].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoops,<\/em>\u201d Cernan exclaimed.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was it [spurious ALARM], again,<\/em>\u201d I said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you seeing?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I see nothing. They\u2019re transients,<\/em>\u201d I responded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook at your gages,<\/em>\u201d as if I were not doing that as fast as my scan could move.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re [the transients] not triggering the CAUTION AND WARNING [lights]<\/em>\u201d, <\/em>I added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we\u2019re getting just a caution and warning transient of some kind, huh? <\/em>contributed Evans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree of them right in [sequence].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to a horn, normal MASTER ALARMs also triggered a rectangular red light on the central instrument panel. That light could be turned off and reset just by pushing it and this was normal procedure so the light was ready to alert us to additional problems. Next to the MASTER ALARM light were columns of yellow CAUTION AND WARNING lights that when lit, would normally remain on to indicate what subsystem problem triggered the MASTER ALARM. In this case, however, the transients, whatever they were, were not illuminating any of these CAUTION AND WARNING lights.<\/span><\/p>\n

With no more ideas on how to troubleshoot the source of these warning transients until we got more information the next time they occurred, or Houston could analyze the telemetry they would get when we could communicate with the Canarvon antenna north of Perth in Western Australia, we pressed on with getting ready for TLI.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, you don\u2019t want your helmet [bag] back [over there] yet, huh? <\/em>asked Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I can take it any time, Geno,<\/em>\u201d I replied, \u201cand get it out of the way over here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, here\u2019s your helmet, Jack.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Ron, do you want yours [helmet bag]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I may as well get it out of the way,<\/em>\u201d Evans agreed.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Cernan continued. <\/em>\u201cAnd\u2026I don\u2019t know when you get into daylight, but your optics [star sightings] is your next\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext thing here,<\/em>\u201d Evans completed, \u201cas soon as I get my old helmet and gloves off.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMan,<\/em>\u201d stated Cernan, \u201cI tell you that booster ride is something to behold.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee whiz! <\/em>Evans continued the thought. \u201cI guess I wasn\u2019t quite prepared for the shaking and vibration until the thing lifted off.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Trying to get the team back on track for TLI, I said, \u201cLet me know when you\u2019re ready for checklist stuff. \u2026Cabin [integrity] still looks good.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Not to be deterred, Cernan continued: \u201cLet me tell you, those people down there must have had something worth waiting for. We saw that light before we left the pad. Did you guys see that? You saw it out your window, Ron? Jack?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d confirmed Evans. \u201cI saw it out my window [#2]. Not enough to blind anything.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see anything,<\/em>\u201d I admitted, but, then again, the protective cover over America<\/em> covered the three windows that would have given me light from the first stage booster. I do recall, however, noticing a glow in the cabin. The protective cover did not go over Cernan\u2019s window #2 so that he might see the horizon if required during a launch abort.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, not enough to blind anything, but you could sure see it there,<\/em>\u201d Cernan added. \u201cBoy, I tell you, I\u2019m sure glad I didn\u2019t have to use any\u2026stars out there. I never would have seen them.<\/em>\u201d As mentioned earlier, Cernan referred here to that possibility that he would have to fly the Saturn V manually using a visual reference relative to the horizon out Window #2.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that!<\/em>\u201d Cernan interrupted himself. \u201cOkay, here you go. Your first sight\u2026you\u2019re looking to watch the sunrise. Jack, get out here [from under the couch].<\/em> As we approached the sunrise terminator over the South Atlantic, the horizon had begun to glow, catching Cernan\u2019s attention and memory from his two previous flights, Gemini 9 and Apollo 10.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, there it is!<\/em>\u201d Evans called out. \u201cWait a minute! I can\u2019t see it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet out here, babe!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that!<\/em>\u201d I exclaimed, as I floated to the hatch window.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on out my window over here. \u2026Wait a minute. \u2026Can you see it out Jack\u2019s window? …You\u2019ll see it the next time around. But it\u2019s your first view of the Earth, babe. And it\u2019s going to be your best until you get a quarter million miles away.<\/em>\u201d As will become apparent later, this was not actually going to be the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly mackerel!<\/em>\u201d Evans reacted in good Kansas fashion.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keep lookin\u2019. \u2026There\u2019s some lightening out there. See it?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes. Right on the horizon,<\/em>\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee those big thunderheads on the horizon?<\/em>\u201d Cernan continued. \u201cLook and the size of those things!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that beautiful!<\/em>\u201d exclaimed Evans.<\/p>\n

While Cernan and Evans chatted about the view, I just took as much of it in as I could, as America<\/em> sped simultaneously over the Earth\u2019s sunrise terminator and the huge cumulonimbus clouds of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. At the same time, I was trying to get a typically distracted Cernan to focus on preparing for TLI (TransLunar Injection).<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the horizon, bands of orange and blue lay below the black of space. Outside, darkness finally had been broken by a spectacular sunrise that had provided what I described a few minutes later as \u201cthe biggest rainbow I\u2019d ever seen,\u201d extending along the entire pre-sunrise horizon. (Fig. 5.3) <\/strong>With sunrise, the windows and the first view of Earth from this orbital perspective beckoned in spite of the demands of the flight plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.3. <\/strong>Apollo 17 views of the horizon at spacecraft sunrise during its first orbit of the Earth. (top<\/em>): Sunrise. (middle<\/em>): first view of the morning terminator off the west coast of Africa. (bottom<\/em>): Slightly further along, showing the pink cloud patterns of dawn (NASA photos AS17 148-22613 -22614 and -22615, respectively).<\/span><\/p>\n

Like childhood\u2019s home, we really see the Earth only as we prepare to leave. The years of flying T-38 jets at 40,000 feet above most of Earth\u2019s weather have not prepared us for orbiting at 540,000 feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSunrise [at the surface] has got to be over Africa somewhere,<\/em>\u201d Evans speculated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Cernan concurred. [But] It may be out in the Atlantic by now.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s out over the water now,<\/em>\u201d I added.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, the COAS is in.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You ready for some more [checklist items]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. No. Watch the sunrise,<\/em>\u201d Cernan recommended.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it comes!<\/em>\u201d I called to Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to watch the sunrise,<\/em>\u201d demanded Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to come right into my eyes. \u2026That\u2019s the [problem with looking,]<\/em>\u201d I said, laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere it comes\u2026Ka-boom!<\/em>\u201d shouted Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a look at it!<\/em>\u201d Cernan would repeat several times.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhooee!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh-ooh!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a look at it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that blaze!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPow!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a look at it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDammit, yes!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOhh, that\u2019s bright!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. Is that nice or not?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s just orange!<\/em>\u201d Evans began summarize his impressions. \u201cYou know. It starts out orange and then\u2026becomes bright; and now it looks like a\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Cernan asserted, finally. <\/em>\u201cNow go check your optics out because if they\u2019re no good, I\u2019m going to throw you out the hatch!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

On top of Evans\u2019s laughter, I piled on with, \u201cThat\u2019s right!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I got to check the little optics\u2026,<\/em>\u201d Evans agreed and floated back into the LEB to set up for the P52 star-based alignment of the guidance system.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m ready [to continue the checklist], Jack.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I want your SM RCS HEATERS, four, to PRIMARY.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Four HEATERS to PRIMARY. \u2026One\u2026two\u2026three\u2026four. They are PRIMARY. <\/em>This prepares the hypergolic-fueled thrusters Evans would need to extract the Challenger<\/em> from the S-IVB.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I want CAUTION and WARNING to NORMAL. \u2026I\u2019ll get it.<\/em>\u201d This switch lay within my reach; however, my continued concern about getting through the pre-TLI Checklist items as fast as possible came from wanting to have as much time as possible to handle the unexpected events that might occur, such as our possible problem with the MASTER ALARM. As my Apollo 15 Backup Crew Commander, the late Dick Gordon, often reminded Vance Brand and me, \u201cTime is relentless in space.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t had that MASTER ALARM again, huh?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. And while you\u2019re talking, I\u2019m going to get the\u2026ORB[BITAL] RATE ball out\u2026or the\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[You mean], ORDEAL?<\/em>\u201d Evans asked, probably enjoying the fact that he knew the Command and Service Module systems far better than his Commander did.<\/p>\n

[ORDEAL (Orbital Rate Drive Electronics for the Apollo Command Module and Lunar Module) was an independent pitch monitoring device for monitoring pitch that could be fed directly into the FDAI (Flight Director Attitude Indicator or \u201ceight-ball\u201d) total-attitude circuits to display spacecraft pitch in either an inertial to a local-vertical reference frame. When in use, ORDEAL\u2019s reference attitude signal comes from either the CMC (Command Module Computer) or the SCS (Stabilization Control System). Once mounted in the socket above Panel 1, ORDEAL received power from the spacecraft\u2019s 115 v AC and 28 v DC buses and became Panel 13.]<\/p>\n

\u201c[That\u2019s right,] ORDEAL,<\/em>\u201d admitted Cernan. \u201cGo ahead, Jack; keep talking.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBPC [JETT KNOB, goes 180 degrees from BPC JETT]. Okay, these things [have been done, already]. \u2026It\u2019s (Boost Protective Cover on the Command Module exterior) already JETT.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans interrupted again, with \u201cDoggone, I\u2019d like to give them television.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026[so turn] 180 degrees,<\/em>\u201d I continued. \u201c[Hatch] GN2 valve HANDLE to VENT. \u2026I guess I\u2019m going to have to do what you guys are doing to do that.<\/em>\u201d I will have to loosen my straps in order to work the hatch controls, but, sense Evans was already out of his couch, I asked, \u201cHey, Hey, Ron, could you get the hatch stuff, or do you want to check your optics, first?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can get the hatch stuff here if I can get my\u2026helmet [out of the way].<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGet the optics, first,<\/em>\u201d Cernan interjected. This was a good call, and I should not have interrupted Evans in his work in the LEB.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get the optics work, okay?<\/em>\u201d Evans changed his mind, after Cernan\u2019s order.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet that [optics] cover off!<\/em>\u201d Cernan emphasized.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m going to do that; [get that cover] off,<\/em>\u201d replied a chastised Evan. \u201cHot diggity dog!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Misunderstanding this expression from Evans, Cernan asked, \u201cDid it go?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Back in his own world, Evans said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe we\u2019ve made it up here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid it go?<\/em>\u201d Cernan repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa, ha!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid it go?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d Evans finally paid attention to the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe optics?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I haven\u2019t done it yet,<\/em>\u201d Evans informed us, laughing. It almost seemed as if Evans was euphoric over this new experience and had lost some of the focus we were used to during mission simulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, well, get on that one. That\u2019s one I want to know!<\/em>\u201d Cernan said in a more relaxed tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d replied Evans. \u2026Let me see\u2026 Do-do-do-dooo-do tum,<\/em>\u201d he sang. \u201cGDC ALIGN\u2026<\/em>\u201d This last statement concerning the Gyro Display Coupler from Evans indicated that he had jumped ahead in his copy of the Checklist to items ultimately related to performing the P52 (Guidance Platform Alignment) star sightings. Holding in the GDC ALIGN button aligned this backup guidance platform to the Inertial Measuring Unit of America\u2019s<\/em> primary Guidance and Navigation and Control system.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeno, \u2026let me know when [you are ready to continue], <\/em>I requested.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you reach the GN2VENT handle?<\/em>\u201d GN2 refers to the Gaseous Nitrogen that pressurized the rapid-opening mechanism of the hatch. This system came into being as a result of the 204 (Apollo 1) fire that killed Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee in January 1967.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,<\/em>\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight here?<\/em>\u201d I said, pointing to the handle just out of my reach while still strapped in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want me to do?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to pull it to VENT.<\/em>\u201d Venting the pressurized nitrogen from the hatch emergency release mechanism was standard procedure so that the hatch could not open inadvertently \u2013 not a good idea in space. This added nitrogen to the spacecraft atmosphere would be replaced slowly by oxygen until we depressurized America <\/em>for Evans\u2019 space walk on the way home.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let me get around to this [position].\u2026Okay, one of these things that [are always awkward].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Talking to himself down in the LEB, Evans said, \u201c[Need to get the] state vector here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPulling to VENT?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked, again.<\/p>\n

\u201cPull to VENT,<\/em>\u201d I repeated.<\/p>\n

Then Cernan interrupted Evans to ask, \u201cRon, it should go to zero, huh? All the way? \u2026Pull to Vent, Okay?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I insisted, while Evans ignored Cernan\u2019s question. Chatting away to himself, he seemed to be oblivious when Cernan and I tried to interrupt.<\/p>\n

\u201cPull to VENT?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. \u2026All the way.<\/em>\u201d Cernan had questioned my call-out three times. For some reason, Cernan did not seem to believe the Checklist. This was really a strange uncertainty on his part, as this hatch would not be opened until after splashdown, and then it would be opened from the outside by the UDT swimmers after they had stabilized the Command Module and had a raft ready for our egress. Discomfort due to space adaptation may have been affecting Cernan\u2019s attention span, as he had no challenging task to occupy him at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I (you) can vent it all the way, now.<\/em>\u201d Evans finally joined this strange discussion.<\/p>\n

Back in Houston, Mission Control issued another public update:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Control at 24 minutes. Apollo 17 now in an orbit about 90 miles by 93 miles and everything appears to be nominal aboard the spacecraft and aboard the launch vehicle, Saturn third stage. One additional impact of our late liftoff will be the loss of television coverage for the transposition and docking maneuver. The television coverage will not be possible because the ground track has shifted and we don\u2019t have the site coverage that had been expected for television. The TransLunar Injection burn, [that is] reigniting the Saturn third stage to put the spacecraft on its trajectory to the Moon, is now scheduled to occur at a ground elapsed time of 3 hours 12 minutes 35 seconds, or roughly 9 minutes earlier than the flight plan time. This again is the effect of the late lift off. And we will be reacquiring Apollo 17 through the Carnarvon Tracking Station at a ground elapsed time of about 52 minutes 20 seconds, roughly 27 minutes from now. This is Apollo Control.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re over the Atlantic, guys, looking out your window,<\/em>\u201d Cernan finally concluded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the Atlantic, huh?<\/em>\u201d acknowledged Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest I can tell right now.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, pardon my French.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d continued Cernan. \u201cLet me tell you. Just because you\u2019ve been in orbit once, that don\u2019t mean you\u2019ve been in orbit all the time.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, by the way, Ron,<\/em>\u201d I called, \u201cyou and I finally qualified.<\/em>\u201d Here, I was referring to meeting the criterion for having flown in space.<\/p>\n

Laughing with uncertainty about what I meant, Evans asked, \u201cWe qualified, huh?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI forgot. \u2026I was going to tell you when we went through 50 miles [during launch], but I was too busy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI forgot all about it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026You want this reset?,<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked me, once again referring to the GN2 VALVE HANDLE.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said, trying to be patient with him. \u201cJust pull to VENT. \u2026Just leave it (the valve handle) the way it is.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It\u2019s going to [be in the way]. We\u2019re going to hit it,<\/em>\u201d responded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t say one way or the other [in the Checklist], Geno.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me put it back here,<\/em>\u201d Cernan decided, not knowing if it might affect the operation of the hatch at splashdown. It was a question that we should have asked Mission Control; however, ultimately it did not make any difference.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, down in the LEB, Evans, laughingly, said, \u201cIt\u2019s black out there.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan put the GN2 valve handle back in its original position, saying, \u201cThere it is.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust vent it to zero. That\u2019s all that\u2019s important,<\/em>\u201d I concluded without really knowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, that\u2019s good. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026And the hatch [ACTUATOR HANDLE SELECTOR] is neutral?<\/em>\u201d I asked, having apparently missed a step to verify that the HATCH GEAR BOX was in the LATCH position.<\/p>\n

During all of this, Evans\u2019s continued his preparatory work on the navigation optics, singing to himself. As Cernan and I stumbled our way through the Checklist for major systems configuration, in parallel, Evans had finally started to work through his part of the Checklist for OPTICS DUST COVER JETT[ISON]. He had installed the optics eyepieces and then told us, working at Panel 122, \u201cI have the [G\/N] OPTICS POWER ON. \u2026Let me see [what\u2019s next.] \u2026OPTICS ZERO to OFF and then ZERO. \u2026OPTICS ZERO [to OFF]. \u2026OPTICS MODE to MANUAL. \u2026OPTICS COUPLING [CONTROL] is DIRECT. \u2026[OPTICS] SPEED is HIGH. \u2026Okay, here goes the old optics.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me know if that cover goes,<\/em>\u201d insisted Cernan.<\/p>\n

To add drama, Evans gave himself a countdown: \u201c1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, <\/em>Evans then put the Optics Hand Controller to MAX RIGHT \u201cOhhhh! My gosh, there it went!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful,<\/em>\u201d Cernan exclaimed, looking out Window 2. \u201cThat\u2019s [it] over here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,<\/em>\u201d Evans said, excitedly, \u201cit\u2019s floating off. It\u2019s a real bright thing. There\u2019s two pieces of it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s great!<\/em>\u201d Cernan exclaimed, again.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething else is flying all over the place,<\/em>\u201d Evans added. \u2026Yes, you can see [other fragments].<\/em>\u201d Removing that cover meant that now he could precisely align our guidance platform for navigating to the Moon as well as backing up guidance for the S-IVB during the TLI burn. Other information, of course, would contribute to this process, such as the Doppler radio tracking from Earth, but being able to make a P52 star sighting made up a critical part of the whole.<\/p>\n

[The general Mission Rule for not getting the cover off, that is the loss of the optics subsystem (Rule 15-52), would have required Evans to make backup star alignments using the Crew Optical Alignment Sight (COAS) mounted in Window #2. This problem would not have kept us from going to the Moon; however, the need for accurate sextant sightings of lunar landmarks near our landing site to refine the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> state vector might have caused consideration of a post-TLI EVA to remove the cover. We were already suited and Evans had his post-TEI (TransEarth Injection) EVA umbilical (Chapter 15). I do not recall, however, this possibility ever being discussed while preparing for either Apollo 15 or Apollo 17.]<\/p>\n

While Evans worked to get the optics ready for his P52, I continued to push Cernan through the Checklist. It was important to make sure components of all our essential systems, attitude control, environmental control, and propulsion had not degraded during the launch, particularly during the heavy vibration on the first stage booster. Although America<\/em> had gone through many ground vibration tests successfully, the real world of flight might have unanticipated effects on plumbing, wiring, pressure vessels, and the like.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what do you want me to do?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked. Back to the checklist, Cernan and I continued to verify that America<\/em> and its Service Module systems were ready for a long voyage in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cSM RCS MONITORING CHECK. You got it?<\/em>\u201d I asked, just to be sure he knew we were beginning to check the status of the Service Module Reaction Control thrusters. \u2026\u201d You got SM RCS Propellant talkback\u2019s, eight [of them are] gray?<\/em>\u201d [9]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all gray.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026[SM RCS] HELIUM 1 and 2, eight [talkbacks], gray,<\/em>\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re eight gray.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSM RCS INDICATOR to HELIUM TANK TEMP and check your quads,<\/em>\u201d I said. \u201cQuads\u201d here referred to the four groups of four thrusters spaced symmetrically around the Service Module. The limits for temperature, helium pressure, manifold pressure, and helium tank temperature for each quad, labeled A, B. C and D, could be checked against the ranges listed in the Checklist and shown in green on the dial Cernan monitored as he went to each rotary switch position.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, helium tanks temp and [pressures]\u2026 Okay, all the quads are GO,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want some numbers [for those limits] or you\u2026like them?, <\/em>I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all nominal.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [lets do the same for the] CM.<\/em>\u201d This required verifying that the two Command Module RCS PROPELLENT talkbacks were gray and the helium temperatures and pressures and the Manifold pressures were in limits. In this case, the twelve CM thrusters were not in quads but were distributed in pairs around the cone-shaped spacecraft so as to provide pitch, roll and yaw control during atmospheric entry and descent. They were arranged in two independent systems of six thrusters each so that if one system failed, the other thrusters still could provide full control, albeit somewhat degraded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reported. \u201cCOMMAND MODULE\u2026 They\u2019re both nominal.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Just to be absolutely sure Cernan had actually looked, I verified by saying, \u201cYou got two gray talkbacks on the propellant \u2013 they\u2019re gray. Okay, and you like\u2026the numbers [on the dials].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [C\/W] LAMP TEST. I did [that once].<\/em>\u201d This was the first thing I did when we had the spurious MASTER ALARMS, but would do it again just to make sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you guys, MASTER ALARM,<\/em>\u201d I warned. \u201cStand by\u2026Okay. That\u2019s good,<\/em>\u201d I said after the two sets of lights had all come on \u201c[They\u2019re] reset,<\/em>\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

As I reset the lights, we had another transient MASTER ALARM. In this context, a check of the Caution and Warning lamps showed none of them had been triggered. This indicated clearly that all systems were okay but that we had a transient affecting only the Master Alarm circuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt tests\u2026almost acts if it\u2019s something to do with the [MASTER ALARM itself],<\/em>\u201d I speculated,<\/span> but found little concern amongst my colleagues who were engrossed in the currently higher priority jettisoning of the optics cover.<\/p>\n

Earlier, I took care of three items (closing the circuit breakers on Panel 5 for the two WASTE H2O\/URINE DUMP (LINE) HEATERS, putting the FUEL CELL REAC[TANT]S VALVE from LATCH to NORMAL, and turning ON the H2 PURGE LINE HEATER.) The heaters, of course, would prevent ice from forming in their respective lines. The FUEL CELL REACTANTS VALVE had been latched prelaunch to prevent launch vibrations from inadvertently shutting off the flow of hydrogen and oxygen to the Fuel Cells, but now would be put in its normal position for routine flight.<\/p>\n

Next on the Checklist, we began to reconfigure the cabin for weightless activity within it. Particularly important were the temporary stowage bags (TSBs) that helped provide some discipline in managing all the small items we would use off and on. Also important was gaining access to the drinking water gun. Evans handed us Tool E (a wrench) that we soon would need to activate the glycol cooling system.<\/p>\n

With the optics cover jettisoned and the LAMP TEST completed, I once again went back to the Checklist. \u201cSTRUT UNLOCK LANYARDS, TWO, STOW,<\/em>\u201d was the next item. Removing the strut lanyards allowed us to reposition the lower portions of the couches that had been placed in a bent knee position for launch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get Ron to do that in a minute,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I whip into a P52 here\u2026or should I [get the lanyards]? <\/em>Evans asked.<\/p>\n

I interrupted with the next item on the Checklist: \u201cDRINKING WATER SUPPLY VALVE, ON.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, that\u2019s a good idea,<\/em>\u201d reacted a thirsty Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck those optics out or you don\u2019t get any [water],<\/em>\u201d ordered Cernan to laughter in the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Ron, \u2026hey, Ron,<\/em>\u201d I called, \u201ccan you CLOSE the COAS\/TUNNEL LIGHTING MAIN A circuit breaker down there [on Panel 226]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Just a second. Let me\u2026 COAS\/TUNNEL A and B is CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, thank you. \u2026And we got the helmet bags and accessory bags (TSBs) [TSBs were out already] and tool E? Would you get tool E out of L-2, please,<\/em>\u201d I requested of Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cTool E out of L-2,<\/em>\u201d Evans repeated. \u201cIs that where that is?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s one thing we\u2019ll need real quick,<\/em>\u201d emphasized Cernan, thinking ahead, now, to doing leak checks on the cooling system\u2019s radiators.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Evans was still trying to get to Panel 226. \u201cOh, you kind of get stuck in these places. \u2026COAS TUNNEL A and B is CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, thank you,<\/em>\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant some [water],<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked me. \u201cYou can\u2019t get it [from your couch].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get it in a minute, Gene. I want to get squared away here [with the Checklist] and then I\u2019ll [un-strap]. It\u2019s just as easy this way\u2026let you guys be at my beck and call\u2026<\/em>\u201d Reading from the Checklist, I quoted: \u201cIf cabin pressure is greater than 5.3, [place] O2 FLOW [at 0.7 pounds per hour].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got to get to those radiators,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, reacting to the slowly increasing temperature in the cabin, but then alerted us that \u201cHere comes Africa<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Unimpressed, apparently, Evans hummed and said, \u201cHey, I can still see those dust covers whipping out through there.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let\u2019s press on and get this [radiator activation] done. It\u2019s getting warm in here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I agreed a little facetiously as I had been trying to get the Commander\u2019s attention to the Checklist for some time. Now, with America<\/em> in the sun, the cabin became noticeably warmer, requiring that we activate the heat radiators and their associated glycol cooling system.<\/p>\n

\u201cMain Reg check, Ron \u2013 whenever you\u2019re ready\u2026<\/em>\u201d The main oxygen regulator controls were in the Lower Equipment Bay (LEB) where Evans was working on his optics. \u201cYou want to leave that [preparation for a P52]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can get the Main Regs later,<\/em>\u201d Cernan vetoed, finally wanting Evans to get on with the star sightings for the P52 guidance platform alignment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay [Gene], Secondary Rad[iator] Leak Check.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we can [do that]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>[I\u2019m] Ready [to watch the glycol flow gage], Geno.<\/span> \u2026Okay, I\u2019m going to SECONDARY. \u2026SECONDARY GLYCOL to RAD valve go NORMAL for 30 seconds.<\/em>\u201d To do this, Cernan had to use the wrench known as Tool E.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, GLYCOL to RAD, SECONDARY, NORMAL for 30 seconds coming at you,<\/em>\u201d confirmed Cernan, now rolled to his left to reach the glycol valve next to his couch.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then it\u2019s going to BYPASS. Give me a MARK [when you start.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Stand by.]<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got it?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet. \u2026[Can\u2019t get the damn tool E]\u2026off here,<\/em>\u201d mumbled a frustrated Commander.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you want it NORMAL?<\/em>\u201d Cernan finally asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNORMAL for 30 seconds.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMARK it. It\u2019s [at] NORMAL.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d and I started monitoring my watch.<\/p>\n

In the middle of this, Evans called from the LEB: \u201cHey, you can see a star!<\/em>\u201d Evans interjected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s what you\u2019re supposed to, babe,<\/em>\u201d responded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in the daylight too,<\/em>\u201d I commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. \u2026Look at\u2026 Did you ever see a blacker sky than that, though?<\/em>\u201d Cernan added, looking out window 1 as he was rolled left to work the radiator leak check.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, about two minutes ago,<\/em>\u201d I jabbed, referring to the pre-sunrise night sky \u2013 bad habit. Then I reported, \u201cTen more seconds, Gene,<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, is she (the glycol system integrity) looking good to you?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, looks good.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

While he waited a few more seconds, Cernan said, \u201cOkay. ORB RATE, by the way, is tracking [our orbital freefall rate].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you can go to the BYPASS,<\/em>\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s back to BYPASS.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good,<\/em>\u201d I noted, referring to the glycol system plumbing. \u201cOkay, GLYCOL RESERVOIR BYPASS VALVE, OPEN.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGLYCOL RESERVOIR BYPASS is OPEN,<\/em>\u201d responded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGLYCOL RESERVOIR OUT VALVE, CLOSED,<\/em>\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cOUT is CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGLYCOL RESERVOIR IN VALVE, CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIN is CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPRIMARY ACCUMULATOR\u2026QUANTITY\u2026is up to 40 [percent]\u2026Interesting.<\/em>\u201d I had expected the accumulator quantity to be much lower.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to try\u2026filling it?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we\u2019re going\u2026 Let\u2019s put something in it.<\/em>\u201d Reading from the Checklist, I said, \u201cPRIMARY ACCUM FILL VALVE, ON, until 50-55. I\u2019ll give you a MARK [when it is at that level].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know whether I [turned] it or not, but it (the FILL VALVE) looked like it was ON,<\/em>\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2026Whoa!<\/em>\u201d I called.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Which way?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTurn it off!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTurn it off.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWoops\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s interesting,<\/em>\u201d I said, noting the accumulator reading had jumped and then gone back down. \u201cDo it [ON], again.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied, \u201cit\u2026looked like it was ON to me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it (the quantity indicator) jumps, Geno, and\u2026I guess I didn\u2019t give you enough time\u2026It\u2019s only [at] 45, now.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, try [again]. It\u2019s ON. \u2026MARK it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got that? <\/em>Cernan asked. \u201cIt (Accumulator Valve) was OFF. It was okay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow\u2026 Turn it OFF,<\/em>\u201d I ordered as I monitored the quantity gage.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I got\u202650 [pounds]. One more time, please,<\/em>\u201d I requested. \u201cFor some reason, there\u2019s a\u202610 percent bias (delay) on it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Cernan answered as he went to ON, again. \u201cThere\u2019s a hysteresis in it (the quantity gage),<\/em>\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026[but] no, it just holds there when it\u2019s (the valve) ON,<\/em>\u201d I disagreed. \u201cOkay, now turn it OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood\u2026[it\u2019s] 55,<\/em>\u201d I reported. \u201cRight in there [where it should be].<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Control, now 32 minutes after the liftoff of Apollo 17 and we have loss of signal with the spacecraft, we will be reacquiring through the Carnarvon Tracking Station in about 20 minutes. And, from the President of the United States, we have the following message to the crew of Apollo 17. The message reads:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018As you set forth on the final Apollo expedition to the Moon, I want you to have my personal best wishes for a successful mission and safe return. I am sure your voyage, your scientific exploration, will be the crowning achievement in a program which has expanded man\u2019s horizons, brought great credit to your country and lifted the spirits of people all over the world. God speed to you all.\u2019 Signed Richard Nixon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe flight Dynamics officer, continuing to process tracking data, following orbital insertions, reports that there is a small amount of out-of-plane error showing up in the orbit. This, [it] is believed, is due to a small error in the instrument unit of the Saturn third stage. However, the orbit is very close to nominal, about 90 nautical miles by 93 nautical miles. And, we look very good, both with respect to the spacecraft and with respect to the Saturn third stage which must perform that burn putting Apollo 17 on its trajectory toward the Moon. At 34 minutes, this is Apollo Control Houston. This is Apollo Control.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[Author’s Note: Between this point and the next period of communications with Mission Control, a number of activities took place simultaneously. For the sake of clarity, some activities that overlapped have been separated from each other and may not correspond exactly with the sequences indicated in the transcripts of Command Module audio. Also, transcribers of that audio had difficulty at times in distinguishing Cernan\u2019s voice from mine due to the communications system\u2019s clipping of high and low frequencies from our spoken audio. I have attempted to properly identify speakers by the context of what was said.]<\/p>\n

Still on his side and looking out window 1, Cernan said, \u201cThere\u2019s a little geology for you, Jack.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope I can look next time [around], <\/em>I replied, still trying to get ahead in the Checklist. \u201c\u2026Okay, FLOW CONTROL POWER [to] POWER.<\/em>\u201d I moved this switch on Panel 2, in front of me. \u201c[Gene,] PRIMARY GLYCOL TO RAD[IATOR] VALVE [to] NORMAL, PUSH! That\u2019s why I want to get going [with the Checklist].<\/em>\u201d It was getting warm in the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cPRIMARY GLYCOL TO RAD, PUSH,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied. \u201cIt\u2019s NORMAL.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d I continued, \u201cECS RAD HEATER [to] PRIM[ARY] 1.<\/em>\u201d This switch also was in front of me. \u201cOkay, [check] PRIM OUT (temperature) below PRIM IN. \u2026We\u2019re already there,<\/em>\u201d I reported, looking at the gage just above the heater switches that showed the INLET and OUTLET temperatures of glycol flowing through the radiators. \u201cThat\u2019s beautiful!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat booster ride is just un\u2026just absolutely incredible,<\/em>\u201d commented Cernan while waiting for my next instruction.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [I verify] ECS RAD TALKBACK is GRAY.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Then I worked through two more switch changes on Panel 2: \u201cGLYCOL EVAP \u2013 TEMP IN, going to AUTO. \u2026POTABLE H2O HEATER going to MAIN A [BUS].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Talking to himself about working with the Sextant in preparation for a star sighting, Evans said, \u201cI guess it\u2019s good to make it focus.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s it looking to you, Ron?<\/em>\u201d Cernan responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I can\u2019t get the crazy thing to focus.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Figuring Evans would solve his current problem with the optics, I told Cernan, \u201cLet me know when you can do a MAIN REG check. …Ready, Gene?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, I had second thoughts as Evans was working next to the LEB panel with the oxygen controls: \u201cLet\u2019s see\u2026I\u2019m in a Fuel Cell EPS (Electrical Power System) [check]. Let\u2019s see [what is left to be done]. \u2026ECS Monitoring, SPS (Service Propulsion System) [Monitoring Check]\u2026The rest of it is mine. \u2026GDC (Gyro Display Coupler) align is\u2026you got to do.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take care of that,<\/em>\u201d Cernan stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then there\u2019s a Sequence Camera [to] unstow and a \u2018MOUNT\u2019 your ORDEAL, if you haven\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, ORDEAL is mounted and working,<\/em>\u201d confirmed Cernan, \u201cand I\u2019ll wait for Ron to finish the optics [to align the GDC].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve done the ORDEAL?<\/em>\u201d I had missed the earlier discussion he and Evans had about this orbital rate-monitoring box.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll wait for him to finish the optics so we can [do the P52],<\/em>\u201d Cernan repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess the rest of it (Checklist) is pretty much mine for a while,<\/em>\u201d I announced and went to work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to get to that P52,\u201d<\/span> Evans mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d agreed Cernan. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you do it now?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell\u2026<\/em>\u201d Evans started to say something about the focus problem, but then announced, \u201cHey, that\u2019s not so bad. Ha ha! There we go. Where\u2019s my book (Guidance and Control Checklist).<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight above you,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, helpfully, as the G&C Checklist Evans had been using had moved above his head in response to the curvature of our orbit around the Earth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the cabin temp, Jack?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked, as I began to focus on completing the Checklist.<\/p>\n

Evans joined in with, \u201cIt\u2019s getting hot. Whatever it is, cool it, yes!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin temp. Lets see if we can\u2019t cool it off,<\/em>\u201d continued Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin temp is low. Oh, cabin temp? \u2026It\u2019s 65,<\/em>\u201d I told them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hot in here,<\/em>\u201d Cernan insisted. We were still in our suits without interior cooling and he, and certainly Evans, had been moving around more than I had.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s see,<\/em>\u201d I began, \u201cWe\u2019re in MANUAL [on the Cabin Temperature control]. INCREASE [on the rotary switch] must be increase temperature.<\/em>\u201d So, I turned the rotary the opposite direction to get some cooling.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, did you want me to turn the DIRECT O2, OFF, by the way?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked. \u201cDid you call that out\u2026?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t call it out\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no,<\/em>\u201d Evans jumped in. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be [OFF].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t call that,<\/em>\u201d I repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, <\/em>conceded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re going to see some MASTER ALARMS here, gang,<\/em>\u201d I alerted my crewmates as I began the Fuel Cell Purge and Electrical Power System Checks. The three Fuel Cells in the Service Module supplied electrical power by converting hydrogen and oxygen to water when passed over a platinum catalyst. This also gives us our necessary water supply. \u201cAny time you get one (alarm) you don\u2019t like, let me know.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,<\/em>\u201d Cernan answered. \u201cWe\u2019ve had four spurious ones without anything else [on the C&W display].<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere seems to be some association with\u2026working the switches up here on (around) the Caution [and] Warning panel, <\/em>I noted, \u201cand I\u2019ll check that out later.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I then put the six H2\/O2 PURGE switches ON and noted both the expected flow increase and a MASTER ALARM and the appropriate yellow CAUTION light. After resetting the alarm, I placed the H2 PURGE HEATER to OFF. A check of the H2 and O2 pressures showed that the three tanks of each were within limits (225-260 and 865-935 psia, respectively) and H2 SURGE TANK PRESSURE matched that of the main H2 tanks. No stirring by the CRYO[GENIC] FANS in each tank was required. To check the functioning of the Fuel Cells, I first turned on the three Fuel Cell HEATERS, checked that the talkbacks for both the Fuel Cell Radiators and Reactants were all six gray, and then, for each Fuel Cell, checked its H2 FLOW rate (0.03-0.15 lb\/hr), O2 FLOW rate (0.25-1.2 lb\/hr), reaction MODULE SKIN TEMP (390-440\u00ba F), MODULE CONDENSER TEMP (150-175\u00ba), and that the FUEL CELL PH HIGH and RADIATOR TEMP LOW talkbacks were gray.<\/p>\n

With the Fuel Cells themselves appearing to be in good shape, I proceeded to check their output DC voltage and amperage. This entailed verifying that the two MAIN BUS TIES were OFF and that the talkbacks were gray for MAIN BUS A feeds from Fuel Cells 1 and 2 and the talkback was barber-pole for the feed from the off-line Fuel Cell 3. Similarly, I verified that the talkbacks were barber-pole for MAIN BUS B off-line Fuel Cells 1 and 2 and was gray for the feed from Fuel Cell 3. This arrangement guaranteed that, if we lost either MAIN BUS A or B, power would still be going to the other BUS. Conversely, if we lost two Fuel Cells, one BUS would still be powered by the remaining Fuel Cell. The voltages (26.5-31.0) and amperages of the three Fuel Cells and MAIN BUS A and B were as expected.<\/p>\n

Command Module entry BATTERY BUSES A, B AND C, that we would need for power during our return to Earth after separating from the Service Module, showed the required 31.5-38 vdc and an amperage drain of much less than the allowed maximum of 3. If ever necessary, these batteries could be charged off the Fuel Cells. A technique even existed, developed during the Apollo 13 crisis, to charge these batteries from Lunar Module batteries.<\/p>\n

PYRO BATTERIES A and B, required for various separations that used pyrotechnics, showed voltages also were within their limits of 36.5 and 37.5 vdc. Also, I changed the DC (direct current) IND[ICATOR] select switch from the launch position on MAIN BUS A to MNB so that bus could be watched for a while. Finally, I checked the AC voltages on all three phases as being between 113 and 117.<\/p>\n

One aspect of the battery checks I could not do from my position on the right hand couch was checking the voltage on the BATTERY RELAY BUS. This bus provides power necessary to operate the motor switches that control the Fuel Cell MAIN BUS, RADIATOR, and REACTANTS connections as well as the DC and AC over- and under-voltage sensing units and inverter controls. To check this RELAY BUS voltage, the left hand and right hand SYS[TEM] TEST switches in the LEB needed to be in positions 5 and B, respectively. As Evans appeared to be finished with his P52 IMU alignment when I got to this point in the Checklist, I asked him, \u201cGive me a BATTERY RELAY BUS reading when you turn [the LEB lights back] on.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[SYSTEM TEST SWITCH at] 5 Bravo, do you?<\/em>\u201d Evans asked. Just for this anticipated test, these switches had been placed at 5 and B before launch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c5 Bravo is about 3.45 [volts],<\/em>\u201d he reported.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful,<\/em>\u201d I responded, as this was within its limits of 3.4-4.1 vdc.<\/p>\n

Next, occasionally talking my way through the Checklist, I moved on to the checkout of the Environmental Control System (ECS) MONITORING CHECK. The DELTA-P between the cabin and our suits was very low as expected, as we had our helmets off. The O2 SURGE TANK PRESSURE was within its 865-935 psia limits as was the pressure in the REPRESS O2 PACKAGE. The PRIMARY RADIATOR talkback was gray, so no action was required to add glycol to the system.<\/p>\n

Cernan interrupted my progress through the Checklist, with, \u201cJack, the [O2] SURGE TANK there may have [been] hit partly OFF.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it looks a little low [in pressure], Gene,<\/em>\u201d I responded. \u201cI was [assuming some bias in the gage reading].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s back ON.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s back on,<\/em>\u201d he repeated. \u201cIt was partially OFF. I hit it with my arm.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Thank you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Just] checking [on things].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t assume any [gage] biases anymore,<\/em>\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You know, I must have caught it with my [suit pocket].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemind me to check that again, if I don\u2019t\u2026remember it,<\/em>\u201d but I was wondering what Cernan was doing down in the LEB.<\/p>\n

Answering my unspoken thought, he said, \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m \u2018walking\u2019 around the cockpit, so to make sure we got it all.<\/em>\u201d On the other hand, he wasn\u2019t going through the Checklist so how would he know if \u201cwe got it all.\u201d He may have been getting away from the strong light through the window that could have been causing some adaptation symptoms. Over the next few days Cernan would spend a lot of time fighting those symptoms in the LEB.<\/p>\n

As I went back to my ECS checkout, I moved the RADIATOR INDICATOR switch on Panel 2 to check inlet and outlet temperatures and another spurious MASTER ALARM occurred. Although these no longer bothered either Cernan or Evans, I told them, \u201cOkay, I did it again. It is switching on Panel 2. I\u2019m sure of it, almost, now.<\/em>\u201d I again moved the RADIATOR INDICATOR switch. \u201c\u2026It does it in the CAUTION\/WARNING NORMAL position\u2026<\/em>\u201d I moved the switch again, but there was no alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evans asked, \u201c[What about the] BOOST [postion]?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it (the switch) did it in (with) [CAUTION\/WARNING in the] BOOST [position], too. Did it in BOOST, too,<\/em>\u201d I repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n

I finally completed the ECS MONITORING CHECK, after noting that the RADIATOR TEMPERATURE PRIMARY INLET and OUTLET temperatures were within their 67-97\u00ba F and -20 to +63\u00ba respective ranges; the PRIMARY GLYCOL EVAPAPORATOR OUTLET TEMPERATURE was inside its 38-50.5\u00ba limits; the SUIT LOOP TEMPERATURE was 45-55\u00ba (although we were warmer, wearing the suits without being connected to O2 flow); CABIN PRESSURE was between its normal limits of 4.7 and 5.3; partial pressure of CO2 was well below 7.6 mm Hg; POTABLE H2O QUANTITY was high; and WASTE WATER QUANTITY was low (but not for long!).<\/p>\n

While I had worked through checkouts for the Fuel Cell, electrical power, and environmental control systems, Evans quietly followed his G&C procedures to complete a P52 fine alignment of America\u2019s<\/em> Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). This complex procedure, that he knew intimately, involved working through the Command Module Computer (CMC) and selecting the IMU ALIGN OPTION. This led to using the Sextant optics to mark on two stars and letting the CMC calculate how much the current alignment of the IMU three gyroscopes should be changed (torqued) to improve its knowledge of our position in inertial space relative to the position of the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center. After TLI, our position would be changed to be relative to our landing site on the Moon.<\/p>\n

Evans called out the three torquing angles calculated by the CMC that Cernan recorded in the Checklist. \u201cPlus 1080, [I mean] plus 080, plus 029, \u2026and plus 018.<\/em>\u201d Evans also recorded the two stars (Noun71) he had used as Gienah and Menkent and the CMC\u2019s calculation of his angular error of 0.01\u00ba (Noun 5).<\/p>\n

At the completion of this activity, Evans noted the time when the torquing corrections to the gyroscopes were calculated on the computer\u2019s Event Timer as \u201c35:10<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was 35:25 up here, Ron,<\/em>\u201d Cernan stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really? <\/em>Evans asked. \u201cI\u2019ve got 35:10 down here.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c35:25 on two clocks up here,<\/em>\u201d countered Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHah! <\/em>Evans exclaimed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let me check the [time in] the computer,<\/em>\u201d decided Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the event timer\u2019s off a little bit, too,<\/em>\u201d noted Evans.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe computer is with both of our clocks up here,<\/em>\u201d reported Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay<\/em>,\u201d acknowledged Evans. \u201cWhat time did you say it was [when I torqued]?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was 35:25 when you torqued.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c35:25, then,<\/em>\u201d agreed Evans. \u201cOkay, somehow the LEB DISKEY Mission Timer doesn\u2019t work\u2026or it\u2019s [running] late.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand how that happened,<\/em>\u201d Cernan mused to laughter from Evans. The cause of this anomaly was never resolved;[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span> however, the anomaly resolution team may have confused the Mission Timer in the Command Module Computer (CMC), where the problem occurred, with the digital Mission Timer on LEB Panel 306, to the right of the Sextant eyepiece. Evans reported that the problem was with the CMC timer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, why don\u2019t you put this (helmet bag) up in the tunnel, if you can,<\/em>\u201d suggested Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m going to do that,<\/em>\u201d agreed Evans, but then changed his mind, saying, \u201cPut it down here [under the couch] where it belongs.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, well, could you put mine down there, too, you suppose? <\/em>Cernan asked. \u201cIs there room down there to put it\u2026?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re going to [have to wedge it in], <\/em>Evans answered, \u201cif it will stay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I won\u2019t put it there, then.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I can put it down here for the time being, but\u2026,<\/em>\u201d said a hesitant Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s all right. That\u2019s all right,<\/em>\u201d concluded Cernan. This discussion illustrates how difficult it was to find storage space in the Command Module\u2019s cabin, particularly since we had not yet unstowed the bungees needed to restrain objects such as the helmets.<\/p>\n

At this point, a MASTER ALARM appeared, in response to which, I said, \u201cOkay, that\u2019s spurious,<\/em>\u201d meaning nothing I was doing should have caused the alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan said, \u201cThat\u2019s spurious; nothing with it [on the Caution light panel].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[That\u2019s] number 5 [of those]. I\u2019ll check my amps once more [to be sure nothing is drawing abnormal current.]<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou weren\u2019t checking out things and\u2026,<\/em>\u201d Cernan pressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cutting him off, I said, \u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A few seconds later, the MASTER ALARM went off again. \u201cOkay, <\/em>I said, \u201canother one. Seems to be something to do, maybe, with switching up here. I seem to get more of them (alarms) when I\u2019m working on the switches up here. I\u2019ll keep my eye open [more closely].<\/em>\u201d I was still working through the Checklist items discussed above when these alarms occurred.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour gages all look good, huh? <\/em>Cernan asked as I continued to move switches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. I haven\u2019t found anything [off nominal].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Cernan moved by Panel 2, another ALARM occurred.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere, you see. You did it, too.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust bouncing against them. Yes,<\/em>\u201d responded Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thinking about something said in a pre-launch briefing, I mused, \u201cHey, Ron, what was it that Gordy said about [the SPS] (Service Propulsion System)?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the SPS [you are asking about]?<\/em>\u201d Evans queried.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the SPS [he mentioned], wasn\u2019t it,<\/em>\u201d I stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Evans said, now remembering. \u201c[Something to do with] switching.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With that, I continued my checks and asked Evans, still in the LEB, \u201cHow about a MAIN REG[ULATOR] check when you get a chance.<\/em>\u201d These were the regulators that control the flow of oxygen into the cabin, based on cabin pressure, and were located in the LEB.<\/p>\n

I caught him in the middle of taking a drink. \u201cFinally got a drink of water.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnybody want a drink,<\/em>\u201d Evans offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot right now,<\/em>\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. MAIN REG B [VALVE], CLOSED,<\/em>\u201d I requested.<\/p>\n

\u201cMAIN REG B is going CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [EMERGENCY] CABIN PRESSURE, SELECT 1.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE\u2019S [at] 1.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPUSH TO TEST.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, PUSH TO TEST,<\/em>\u201d responds Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cO2 flow [should] increase,<\/em>\u201d I alert him. \u201cStand by; you might get a MASTER ALARM. Go ahead [and push].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it [O2 flow] does [increase]. That\u2019s good.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoo! That [feels good].<\/em>\u201d Evans was feeling a little warm.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, MAIN REG B, OPEN, and A, CLOSED.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, B is going OPEN.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA [is] CLOSED?<\/em>\u201d I ask, to be sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cA is CLOSED,<\/em>\u201d Evans verifies.<\/p>\n

\u201cEMERGENCY CABIN PRESSSURE, SELECT 2.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s going to 2.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPUSH TO TEST.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPUSH TO TEST,<\/em>\u201d repeats Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201c[O2 flow increased.] Okay, that\u2019s good here. \u2026MAIN REG A VALVE, OPEN.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMAIN REG A is OPEN.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCABIN EMERGENCY PRESS[URE] SELECT, BOTH.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, EMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE is in BOTH,<\/em>\u201d Evans said, and another section of the post-insertion Checklist is done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s the coast of Africa,<\/em>\u201d noted Cernan, who has not been involved much in the stuff Evans and I were doing once we were in orbit and before TransLunar Insertion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to see something,<\/em>\u201d whines Evans, as he has been in the LEB for the last half an hour.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019ll see it,<\/em>\u201d Cernan responded, totally missing the point of Evan\u2019s remark.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d I said to Evans, pointing to a STRUT LANYARDS that I had yet to remove and stow.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet caught up, we\u2019ll [get to look out],<\/em>\u201d Evans said, wishfully.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Get this other one (lanyard) over here,<\/em>\u201d I asked as Evans laughed at my insistence.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I got it (lanyard),<\/em>\u201d Cernan volunteered, and then asked Evans to help, anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then, [Ron], you get a couple of bungees out of there,<\/em>\u201d I requested, \u201cand I want to trade [cue] cards with you.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,<\/em>\u201d Evans replied and then began singing again, followed by some addition for an unknown reason: \u201cOkay, 25 and added [to] a 46 [equals] 71. \u2026A couple of bungees coming up. \u2026No, wait a minute, I don\u2019t know where they are. Normally, [they would be over here],<\/em>\u201d he added with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat GDC ALIGN pushbutton is really hard to push, Ron,<\/em>\u201d Cernan inserted. \u201cThere is a little step in it you got to [overcome].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it is?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the Indian Ocean, we replaced our launch cue cards with those for both a normal and a manual TransLunar Injection (TLI) burn. As every available, irregular space on Panels 1, 2 and 3 was used to velcro cue cards in place, this took some time, requiring matching a cue card shape to its proper spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are coming out over the Indian Ocean,<\/em>\u201d Cernan announced. \u201cI can\u2019t really tell you where, guys, but\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoo,<\/em>\u201d Evans spoke for the three of us when he added, \u201cI wonder if I could take a leak? Do I have time to take a leak?<\/em>\u201d We all had decided to not wear the potentially very uncomfortable \u2018URINE COLLECTION TRANSFER ASSEMBLIES\u2019 in our suits for launch. (More on the UCTA\u2019s in a later Chapter.)<\/p>\n

\u201cI am going to have to empty my \u2018leak\u2019 when I get out of my suit,<\/em>\u201d replied Cerrnan.<\/p>\n

Stating the obvious, Evans said, \u201cWell, I can\u2019t do that right now,<\/em>\u201d to laughter in the cabin. Then he added, \u201cLet\u2019s see here. We got to get a camera out, huh?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, get your cameras,<\/em>\u201d directed Cernan, \u201cthat\u2019s the next thing.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at the Checklist, I told Evans, \u201cYou need two of them: the 16 [mm Mauer] and the [Hasselbald]. \u2026You want some words on what [magazines] to put on them?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,<\/em>\u201d Evans answered.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Jack,] why don\u2019t you press on [with the Checklist],<\/em>\u201d Cernan suggested, \u201cand I can work with him on that.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

After helping Evans extract the cameras, Cernan inquired about how we were responding to weightlessness. \u201cHow you guys doing? Moving slow<\/em>?\u201d He may have begun to feel uncomfortable at this point.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Evans and I responded, relative to \u201cmoving slow\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel pretty good.<\/em>\u201d I replied. \u201cI noted that\u2026,<\/em>\u201d I started to add but Evans interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a little bit of a [headache]. I know that if I move fast, I\u2019d start to get a headache is all I can say.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, stay where you are and move slow,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been floating around too fast down here\u2026,<\/em>\u201d Evans admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you may have, Ron. You\u2019ve been bouncing around. Just take it easy and go slow. We\u2019re way ahead\u2026and if you feel like you want to get back in the couch, just get back in the couch.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

This exchange was a precursor to both Evans and Cernan spending much of the next three days looking and acting, without saying so, like they did not feel well. No one reached the point of throwing up as a few others had in the past; however, America<\/em> had relatively little internal conversation for the three days after TLI. The exceptions to this occurred during mission critical phases of activity, such as TLI, P52 alignments, etc., when professionalism exerted itself and masked any discomfort.<\/p>\n

I had started to say to the others that I had a slight headache and a little stomach awareness, but if I just stopped moving for a few minutes, or stopped looking at the bright Earth scenes against a black background, these motion sickness-like symptoms of space adaptation went away. Later on, I talked to Mission Control on a private communications loop about these physiological observations. The Flight Surgeon in Mission Control, however, interpreted this self-initiated reporting as implying that I was feeling sick and the others were not \u2013 just the opposite of what was actually the case.<\/p>\n

Getting back to business, I said, \u201cOkay, gang, I\u2019m going to give you a [list of things to do]\u2026well, I\u2019m going to save that, until I get [my pressure suit] unzipped here in a little bit\u2026 You got your GDC (Gyro Display Coupler \u2013 a backup guidance system) aligned?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGDC is aligned,<\/em>\u201d Cernan answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re getting [out] the cameras<\/em>,\u201d I stated, referring to the next checklist item that included the ORDEAL box Cernan had already mounted on Panel 13 and then initialize. ORDEAL (Orbital Rate Display Earth And Lunar) displayed America\u2019s <\/em>orbital velocity around both the Earth and Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cCabin pressure looks good to you, huh?<\/em>\u201d Cernan interrupted, again.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir; it\u2019s holding at 6 [psia].<\/em>\u201d Although this was a bit high, an alarm normally would have alerted us if pressure needed to be reduced.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got all the hatch configurations we want?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. Very tight. Hatch is good.<\/em>\u201d Why Cernan seemed to have forgotten that he and I confirmed the pressure integrity of the cabin soon after we entered orbit, I don\u2019t know, unless he felt he was not being \u201cCommander\u201d enough and needed to ask something, or he was feeling guilty about feeling physiological discomfort in weightlessness. On the other hand, in high-risk situations, it is always a good idea to double-check.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormal and latch[ed]?<\/em>\u201d Again, he referred to the hatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, and I\u2019m double-checked here on normal and latched,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said as he triple-checked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to give me a mark on 48 [seconds] there, Gene? <\/em>Evans asked from the LEB where he was resetting the computer\u2019s Mission Timer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. \u202645 seconds [to go]. I wonder how that clock got off down there?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, <\/em>I alerted them. \u201cYou should have [communications through] Carnarvon in about 5 minutes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty seconds, Ron.<\/em>\u201d And then the two of them counted down to a reset of the Timer.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I was running a check of the SECONDARY GLYCOL LOOP. After selecting SEC on the ECS IND[ICATOR] switch, I put the SECONDARY COOLANT LOOP PUMP to AC1 and verified that the GLYCOL DISCHARGE PRESSURE was between 39 and 51 psia and that the SECONDARY ACCUMULATOR QUANTITY was between 30 and 50 percent. After putting the SECONARY COOLING LOOP to EVAPORATION, I needed to wait five minutes to check the SECONDARY EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE OUT had reached between 38 and 50.5\u00ba. Once that was verified, the SECONDARY COOLING LOOP was RESET for one minute and then turned OFF. Then, the INDICATOR switch was put back to PRIMARY for general monitoring.<\/p>\n

As I moved a switch to check the pressures in the SECONDARY GLYCOL LOOP, another spurious MASTER ALARM occurred to which Cernan reacted by saying, \u201cThere it went \u2013 with that switch.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure seems to be it doesn\u2019t it?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one\u2026any of the switches?<\/em>\u201d asked Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, so far it\u2019s at random. Maybe we ought to keep a list,<\/em>\u201d I replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, with another ALARM, Evans said, \u201cWas that\u2026I just hit the MISSION TIMER START.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I think it was mine, Ron; [I moved] a bat[tery] switch up here,<\/em>\u201d I assured him. This was starting to look like a problem in some way with Panel 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, trying to get everyone back on the checklist items, I asked Evans, \u201cYou got all the optics stuff [stowed], right, Ron?, …I\u2019ll check that one off. You getting the cameras [out]? …P52 [done]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

After replying in the affirmative to these questions, Evans added, \u201cP52 is completed. [Gyro] torquing angles were small.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you copy them [down]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. SCS (Stabilization Control System) attitude [check]\u2026 Can you do that [Gene]?<\/em>\u201d The SCS provided a backup means of determining the spacecraft\u2019s orientation in inertial space. The gyros (GDC) for the SCS earlier had been aligned with gyros in the Primary Navigation and Guidance System (PNGS) that Evans had just updated with his P52 star sighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I can do the SCS attitude. That\u2019s no problem.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. How about the Docking Probe? Is that [done before] AOS (Acquisition Of Signal)? They (Mission Control) like to have that done [before AOS]\u2026or what\u2019d we decide?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t need it,<\/em>\u201d Cernan asserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they can\u2019t see anything [of much use on the telemetry] anyway. They got their Probe temperature [to tell] whether it\u2019s extended or not,<\/em>\u201d added Evans.<\/p>\n

Then Cernan referred to feeling like he was upside down. \u201cIt\u2019s just like [upside down] maneuvers I was doing in the T-38.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s okay] if your oil pressure doesn\u2019t drop,<\/em>\u201d I joked, stretching an analogy of body fluids to the tendency for some T-38s to perform well upside down and others to lose oil pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you guys, <\/em>I said. \u201cExcept for one check [on a panel] over here, which I am going to have to unzip [my suit] to do, I think we are done [with the Checklist].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou happy with everything except the MASTER ALARMS?<\/em>\u201d asked Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe MASTER ALARMS\u2026Whew!<\/em>\u201d I interrupted myself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was it?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I got that change in the bias again on that H2 tank, <\/em>I explained. <\/em>\u201cIt\u2019s down to 90 percent. And the surge tank\u2019s coming up, thanks to your little check [of that handle position]. …And the MASTER ALARMS are the only [other] thing that I found anomalous. Okay?<\/em>\u201d As I then worked out of the harnesses that I had left connected during work with the Checklist, I floated away from my couch and jokingly stated the obvious. \u201cIt\u2019s like zero-g!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust move slow,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reiterated.\u2026Even if there\u2019s nothing bothering you, you still move slow.<\/em>\u201d This, of course, was the plan I had already adopted.<\/p>\n

Evans then sang, \u201cIt\u2019s a lot easier to get out [of the suit than in one g]. Your just take it [off] and let it float up here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let me tell you what you want [from stowage],<\/em>\u201d I continued from the checklist.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking out the windows between checks of our systems, the immensity of continental Africa held my eye. The first view of land from over the Atlantic includes the giant sand dunes on the southwestern coast. (Fig. 5.4<\/strong>) A pass over the cloud free inner continent and then Madagascar at midday offers aesthetic and geologic scenery unlike any textbook or travelogue. Geology and botany define ancient, still mysterious patterns of life and soil that, millions of years ago, nurtured our origins as a species. Preceded by long lines of billowing white smoke, range fires sweep before the winds. As they have for millennia, the fires emblaze grasslands of the Kalahari with feathery patterns like ice crystals leave after a breath of winter has passed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.4.<\/strong> Apollo 17 view of the coast of South Africa, showing the immense sand dunes that have developed there (NASA photo AS17-148-22624).<\/span><\/p>\n

Speeding silently over the deep blue Indian Ocean and the Intertropical Convergence Zone, we see the dense white tops of hundreds of magnificent afternoon thunderheads break into the stratosphere, forming where tropical air masses converge near the equator. Feeding moisture into air currents that ultimately would drop snow in polar regions, these splendid examples of nature\u2019s inexorable cycles and unstoppable power dominate our crossing of this global band of storms. The sunset shadows of cloud anvils stretch eastward like dark fingers reaching to stop the inevitable advance of night. Without realizing it, I crossed the equator for the first time as we approached the East Indies. After sunset over the Pacific, flashing, blue-white lightning rippled through the cloud tops and across the ocean\u2019s black night. North and south of our orbit, stars rise slowly between the dark horizon and the soft blue airglow in the upper atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control at 51 minutes into the flight of Apollo 17 and we\u2019re standing by to reacquire the spacecraft through the Carnarvon, Australia, Tracking Station. One of the things the booster engineer will be looking for when we reacquire them [will be to] get good log on the data [from] the Saturn 3rd stage instrument unit. Looking at one brief bit of data before we lost signal, it appears that one of the four batteries in the instrument unit had a very high current drain on it. We will be looking closely at that to see if it was simply a telemetry problem or if, in fact, that battery does have some problem. And we should be about 15 seconds from reacquiring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Houston,\u201d I called. \u201cHow do you read Seventeen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, read you loud and clear,\u201d came Overmyer\u2019s reply precisely at 52:20, transmitting through the Carnarvon antenna station.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, we\u2019re going real well up here, Bob. Have no significant anomalies as yet; and we\u2019ve just about completed our part of the Insertion Checklist. Gene has his SCS check yet, and Ron\u2019s got some P52 numbers for you. And the only thing I\u2019ve seen so far is\u2026some spurious MASTER ALARMs, without CAUTION AND WARNING [lights], that seem to be associated with moving switches on Panel 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overmyer seemed a bit confused by this report, so I continued: \u201cSo far, it\u2019s (the alarms) been fairly random. Some [switch movement] that I remember are the SECONDARY COOLANT LOOP EVAP switch, the LAMP TEST switch\u2026let\u2019s see, \u2026I think I got one with the TEMP-IN AUTO SWITCH. Gene got one doing something. I can\u2019t remember exactly what it was\u2026 Probably random.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe copy. Jack, we\u2019re standing by for that P52 data. We\u2019ve only got about a\u2026five-minute [communications] pass here. We\u2019ll take the 52 data, and I got a few updates for you.\u201d Interesting that Houston flight controllers did not seem particularly concerned about my MASTER ALARM anomaly that repeatedly interrupted our initial three-quarters of an hour in orbit. On the other hand, this was a short pass.<\/p>\n

Evans then gave the numbers he had come up with for the fine alignment of the guidance platform, all well within the desired limits. \u201cOkay. P52 data is coming. NOUN 71 is 24 and 30 (stars); NOUN 05 is point 01 (—); NOUN 93s are plus point 080, plus point 029, plus point 018; and we torqued at 35:25.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We copy that. Okay, while we\u2019re filling in some here, you might want to know this, Jack. Your sunset and sunrise times in the Launch Checklist are all off [late] by approximately eight minutes and 30 seconds\u2026 That\u2019s an approximate number.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I acknowledged, \u201cwe got you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd on page 2-17 of the Launch Checklist, you\u2019re going to want to delete all reference to Honeysuckle [an Australia antenna] AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) and LOS (Loss Of Signal) and delete all reference to Canaries [Islands antenna] AOS and LOS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWilco.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we want to add an Ascension pass,\u201d Overmyer continued; AOS at Ascension [will be] 01 plus 54 plus 00 and LOS will be at 02:00:16.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob, you\u2019re going to have to repeat that.\u201d Overmyer had caught me without a pen in my hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, stand by. Let me give you a page [in the Launch Checklist]. On 2-17\u2026let\u2019s go Hawaii AOS, first of all. On Hawaii AOS, on page 2-17, AOS is 01 plus 17 plus 24. Hawaii LOS: 01 plus 22 plus 49.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d I replied. \u201cNow what about the Ascension?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, here, [I\u2019ll] give you Ascension again, now: AOS 01 plus 54 plus 00. Ascension LOS will be 02:00:16. Over.\u201d<\/p>\n

I then read back a number of changes from Overmyer in the access times around the world, required as a consequence of our late launch.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Good copy. And the booster\u2019s looking good down here and you\u2019re looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, and I\u2019ll do a better job of itemizing those switches,\u201d I said, trying to get their attention on the MASTER ALARM anomaly. \u201cWe are pressing pretty hard, and I\u2019ll be able to go back and get most of them, I think. And we\u2019ll keep an eye on\u2026the MASTER ALARMS.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. We understand. And I think we copied most of what you said there, and we\u2019re working on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d broke in Cernan. \u201cOther than that MASTER ALARM, all is well on America,<\/em> and I understand the booster is looking good to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I added: \u201cAnd, Bob, let me add that\u2026we did get spurious MASTER ALARMS without switch movement, but many came with switch movements. We\u2019ve had about seven [alarms]\u2026 That was only after [orbit] insertion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeven times that your heart doesn\u2019t need, huh?\u201d Overmyer joked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we were paying attention to a sunset that was the biggest\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSunrise,\u201d Cernan inserted.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026or sunrise or something that we saw,\u201d I continued, undeterred, as it was sunset for the Earth. \u201cIt was the biggest rainbow I\u2019d ever seen!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful! We can\u2019t wait to hear what you had to say about\u2026the ignition on the S-II. It sounded pretty spectacular.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d Cernan replied, \u201cjust let it be said that that was quite a booster ride! When we get a chance a little later\u2026maybe we\u2019ll be able to tell you something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re about ready to lose comm., here. You\u2019re looking great, guys, and we\u2019ll pick you up in Hawaii here shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019re looking at the deserts of Australia right now,\u201d Cernan said, \u201cand, again, everything\u2019s good on board.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Pick you up at 01:17:24.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGotcha,\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control. We\u2019re coming up now one 1 hour after liftoff for Apollo 17. And as you heard CAPCOM Robert Overmyer reporting to the crew that everything looks good including the Saturn 3rd stage. Apparently the indication we had of a possible battery problem in the instrument unit was nothing more than a bad bit of telemetry there. When the booster engineer got a good hard look at the telemetry on this pass, he reported everything looked good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing to take things out of storage in the LEB and needing to tape something somewhere, a frustrated Evans said, \u201cWell, I\u2019ll tell you\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, 11, 6, \u2026<\/em>\u201d Cernan responded in gibberish, causing Evans to laugh. \u201c[They\u2019re] pretty stingy with the tape there. [Only gave us a] piece about a foot long.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA foot long?<\/em>\u201d Evans repeated, incredulously.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, this\u2019ll have to do for now,<\/em>\u201d Cernan decided. \u201cI\u2019m just going to put this here, if you\u2019ve got any other things\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans decided to move from the LEB to where he could see out the hatch window and remarked, \u201cMan, are we moving. Holy mackerel!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let it out, Ron,<\/em>\u201d kidded Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t had a chance to look out the window, yet,<\/em>\u201d Evans responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all right, get back to work,<\/em>\u201d Cernan ordered and got another laugh from Evans in return.<\/p>\n

Floating the camera toward Evans, Cernan said, \u201cHere it is.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was as hard as [you could throw it]?<\/em>\u201d I asked, concerned about the camera lens.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it didn\u2019t hit it, [did it]?<\/em>\u201d Evans answered my question with a question.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that [hit] doesn\u2019t mean anything,<\/em>\u201d a contrite Cernan said, \u201cbut it sure could be a pain in the neck, even if it doesn\u2019t.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[What] (singing) he was doing isn\u2019t very loud, is it,<\/em>\u201d I stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Seeing more and more thunderheads below, I said, \u201c[Let me get my] weather map out [of my pocket] and look at it.<\/em>\u201d The map I referred to was the set of recent satellite photographs given to me as we suited up a few hours ago.<\/p>\n

A surprised Cernan asked, \u201cYou got [a weather map]? <\/em>I had not told him of my plan to observe weather patterns on the way to the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot the weather map,<\/em>\u201d I informed him, as I extracted it from my calf pocket.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we got the SPS REF[ERENCE] CHECK to do yet?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked me, changing the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,<\/em>\u201d I confirmed, having been trying to get that done for sometime, now.<\/p>\n

Evans had broken out a map that showed our ground track Xand was trying to identify the land masses below us, to which Cernan, pointing to the map, contradicted Evans\u2019 initial conclusion, saying, \u201cNo, we\u2019re not, we\u2019re not doing a darn thing up here [in Asia, but only along the track of the] spacecraft.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really? <\/em>Evans responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re way up here,<\/em>\u201d insisted Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it is,<\/em>\u201d Evans said, spying an obvious ground feature.<\/p>\n

As we approached the East Indies, Evans exclaimed, \u201cOh, look at the coral reef there, Geno!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo bad it is not the Bahamas. Well, you\u2019ll see the Bahamas in daylight, as far away as the Moon, but they really get bright.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFantastic! Coral atolls!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, troops,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, \u201clet me get you back and squared away here, I mean checklist-wise.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Commander finally deciding to command, but uncertain about how to do the SCS ATT[ITUDE] REF[ERENCE] COMP[ARISON] CHECK, Evans began to walk him through the procedure, having done this many times in training.<\/p>\n

\u201cVERB 16, NOUN 20,<\/em>\u201d Ron directed, first. Noun 20 gave a DISKEY display of the roll, pitch and yaw angles of the spacecraft, currently held in the guidance system\u2019s ICDU (Inertial Coupling Data Unit). Verb 16 told the CMC to monitor the Noun 20 data.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got it,<\/em>\u201d replied Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Next,] select number 1 [on the] FDAI (Flight Director Attitude Indicator).<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, got it,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, as he moved the FDAI switch.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Put] FDAI SOURCE to ATTITUDE SET.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Now,] ATTITUDE SET [to] GDC,<\/em>\u201d continued Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cYo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[With the] ATTITUDE SET DIALS, null [FDAI] number 1 error [needles].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, key your VERB [16] when they\u2019re (the error needles) nulled,<\/em>\u201d Evans told Cernan to do this in order to freeze the display on the computer DISKEY.<\/p>\n

I interrupted their procedure to say, \u201c\u2026We\u2019ve about 15 minutes to sunset, Gene. \u2026Okay, [actually, it will be] 8 minutes earlier, so we have less than that (15 minutes). \u20268 minutes earlier.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Do we call up\u2026<\/em>\u201d Cernan started to ask a question but then through better of it. \u201cOkay, here\u2019s the numbers, Ron, if you want to write it (them) down.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Wait just a second [while I get a pen]. Un Poquito. \u2026Okay, [I ready.]<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want, NOUN 20 first?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Roll] 179 point 77<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c179 point 77.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Pitch] 118 point 95.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c118 point 95.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Yaw] 359 point 59.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c359 point 59.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, <\/em>Cernan said, \u201c[for comparison, the FDAI] will be [roll] 180 point 3.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c180 point 3<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Pitch] 119 point.75.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Yaw] then [is] 359…point 0.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans apparently missed the pitch number, asking, \u201cDegrees of pitch, got that<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, that\u2019ll be 114 [and a] half and 115 \u2013 about a degree [off]. \u2026degree [of difference].<\/em>\u201d Cernan apparently misread the FDAI this second time, but got the difference from the computer NOUN 20 number for pitch, right.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot 8 minutes to Hawaii AOS.<\/em>\u201d I reminded them.<\/p>\n

Cernan commented, relative to the difference between the computer\u2019s reading of the IMU attitude and the FDAI numbers, \u201cWould you believe the GDC drifts just like it…<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike it does in the simulator?<\/em>\u201d finished Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t believe it does that,<\/em>\u201d Cernan stated.<\/p>\n

Evans laughed and responded, \u201cIt\u2019s not supposed to do that!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I discovered one thing,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, after perusing the Checklist. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026looking at the time on the Checklist that the [Command Module] tape\u2026<\/em>\u201d At this point, Evans interrupted, reminding Cernan that what he was looking at related to the next orbit.<\/p>\n

While Evans and Cernan worked on the SCS, I went ahead with the SPS (Service Propulsion System) MONITORING CHECK. The big 20,500 pound thrust SPS engine not only would provide the energy needed to go into and out of lunar orbit in a few days, but it was our means of returning home if the S-IVB did not provide a full TLI burn. It also would give Evans the capability to adjust his lunar orbit altitude and orbital plane in preparation for our return from the lunar surface.<\/p>\n

I went through the SPS check quietly so as not to disturb Evans and Cernan in their check of the SCS backup guidance. First, I used the SPS PROPELLANT TANK TEMPERATURE INDICATOR to check that the propellant temperatures were between 45\u00ba and 75\u00ba F. If they had not been within those limits, I could control the temperatures with the SPS LINE HEATERS. Next, I went to the SPS PROPELLANT TANK PRESSURE INDICATOR and checked that helium (He) was less than 3900 psia and that the N2 tanks A and B were less than 2900 psia, leaving the PRESSURE INDICATOR switch on He for general monitoring, as helium diffused much more readily than the larger nitrogen molecule. Then, I checked the redundant FUEL (mixture of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and dimethylhydrazine) and OXIDIZER (nitrogen tetroxide) tank pressures as between 170 and 195 psia, leaving the PRESSURE INDICATOR switches in position 1. The four SPS ENGINE INJECTOR VALVES went to the CLOSED position to check OXIDIZER and FUEL QUANTITIES and the balance between them. The PRIMARY OXIDIZER FLOW VALVE was left in PRIMARY and the two He VALVES were left in AUTO as they were during launch.<\/p>\n

Realizing that I was very thirsty, I stated, \u201cI will have a drink of water, though.<\/em>\u201d We had a gun-like dispenser in the Lower Equipment Bay that allowed us to squirt an ounce of water at a time into our mouths. Drinking water was being added continuously to our tank from the same hydrogen-oxygen Fuel Cells that provided electrical power.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good water now \u2013 good water now,<\/em>\u201d Evans commented as he handed me the water gun.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t we supposed to use our little thing (measuring bag)?<\/em>\u201d I asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. We\u2019re not\u2026keeping track of it (water consumption) now, so I figure we\u2019ll start tomorrow.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, sports fans. You want to extend the Docking Probe or do you want to wait?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoo! I think I might as well do that\u2026<\/em>\u201d Evans agreed and then, humming to himself, he said, \u201c\u2026try to extend the docking probe\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Evans went to work on that, I asked him, \u201cAre you passing out our stowage\u2026bags?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not yet. I better get some, hadn\u2019t I. You need some for TLI?<\/em>\u201d Evans asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I just thought you\u2019d need some to [control our small items].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, okay. \u2026I got to figure out where to put them.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want me to read you the checklist [for Probe Extension],<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked Evans but got no response.<\/p>\n

I went back to the main Checklist, asking, \u201c\u2026You guys finished your redundant performance check, didn\u2019t you?<\/em>\u201d Calling the SCS ATTITUDE REFERENCE COMPARISON check by this name, relates to shorthand used during simulator training.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Yes.] Except for the\u2026<\/em>\u201d Looking out the window distracted Cernan from finishing his response. The only step not called out earlier, was to reset the FDAI SELECT switch back to 1 \/ 2 so that both FDAIs were being fed the same orientation data. \u201c[Look at the ocean,] with the clouds with the Sun putting shadows on the [ocean] surface out there.<\/em>\u201d At this point, we approached sunset on the Pacific as we flew across the Equator north of Samoa and our planned splashdown point on the return trip. The amazing shadow patterns on the Pacific and its thunderheads, and trying to photograph them, took our attention away from TLI preparations for a few minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, we\u2019re pretty close down there, you know,<\/em>\u201d Evans observed, probably thinking about our relatively low 90 nm orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we\u2019re getting close to sunset\u2026<\/em>\u201d Cernan stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood grief! [Look at that!]<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are those bright spots in the clouds there?<\/em>\u201d Evans <\/em>asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s your zero-phase spot [where our shadow would hit the cloud],<\/em>\u201d I answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan noted, \u201cThat\u2019s the cloud in the shadow [of another cloud], see, the shadow\u2019s gone a long way.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, it\u2019s a little low-pressure area, see it?<\/em>\u201d I had noted the counter-clockwise pattern in the clouds. We may have been flying over the tropical storm beginnings of Typhoon Violet south of Guam. I later specifically identified this storm on the way to the Moon. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you get our [Earth] orbit chart out when you go into the data file, Ron.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou might take the Flight Plan out,<\/em>\u201d Cernan added.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some pretty lively looking clouds down there,<\/em> I observed, speaking of the large cumulus build-ups we were seeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Yes, yes!<\/em>\u201d exclaimed Evans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than [the simulator],<\/em>\u201d I added.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evans asked, \u201cAre we going right over the equator\u2026must be.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Cernan replied, looking at the orbit chart, \u201cwe\u2019re northwest of Samoa.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Evans noted, \u201cWe went (launched) on a 91 degree [azimuth].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a good-looking cloud for you \u2013 look at that one,<\/em>\u201d I exclaimed, \u201c\u2026Boy, you could snap a picture of that\u2026(laughing)\u2026 I forgot I got the damn camera! <\/em>After taking a picture so near sunset, I said, \u201cMight be underexposed.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can get that, Jack; give me that [camera],<\/em>\u201d Cernan requested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got it,<\/em>\u201d I replied (Fig. 5.5<\/strong>). \u201cThere\u2019s some big clouds\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.5.<\/strong> (Upper<\/em>): Oblique view of the tops of thunderheads near sunset. (Lower<\/em>); Overhead view of the same larger formation. (NASA photo AS17-148-22659, -22660).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat little round one, you mean?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there\u2019s another one over here on my side, if you\u2019ll give me the camera.<\/em>\u201d I think the Commander was unhappy with me for not giving him the camera, earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it\u2019s at 5.6 [f-stop] \u2013 might want to open it up more.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I can get it now. It\u2019s going to be hit and miss,<\/em>\u201d Cernan griped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the [problem with being in orbit].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess it is,<\/em>\u201d Cernan agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trying to make it up to him, I said, \u201cHow about out your window, Ron?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can see it, but [can\u2019t get the camera pointed at it].<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s too late,<\/em>\u201d concluded Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cToo late now. I\u2019m in the dark,<\/em>\u201d agreed Evans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, it looks like something [like a cow pad],<\/em>\u201d I joked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that there was little to see out the windows other than the horizon, Evans offered, \u201cOkay, how about the old docking probe?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

With sunset on the Pacific behind us, checking out the Docking Probe constituted a critical event if we were going to take the Challenger<\/em> with us to the Moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, how about the old docking probe circuit breakers<\/em>\u201d, <\/em>Evans began.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026circuit breakers are in,<\/em>\u201d Cernan responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let\u2019s go by this checklist and make sure we do it right,<\/em>\u201d I cautioned.<\/p>\n

Evans agreed, saying \u201cDOCKING PROBE circuit breakers, two, closed.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re closed.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDOCKING PROBE, EXTEND\/RELEASE [push button] \u2013 EXTEND\/RELEASE until probe extension [complete]. Okay, I\u2019m going to hit it real lightly\u2026[probe position indicator shows] barber pole and then gray [meaning extended]. I thought it went <\/em>\u201cbump,<\/em>\u201d didn\u2019t it?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t tell,<\/em>\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n

Cernan admitted, \u201cThat was me with the camera.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to EXTEND. It\u2019s out. Okay. Go to RETRACT. [Did the two indicators] go gray?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey both popped in a hurry, didn\u2019t they?<\/em>\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. That really goes great\u2026 Okay, PROBE RETURN,<\/em>\u201d Evans continued with the checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did it go again?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRETURN and RETRACT [indicator] is gray. Okay, [now] DOCKING PROBE EXTEND\/RELEASE. I don\u2019t know whether [it actually extended]. Okay, \u2026to RETRACT. Okay, we\u2019ll keep it in RETRACT until [just after] TLI [and we] copy the TLI PADs.<\/em>\u201d I did not call out \u2018barber pole\u2019 on the two indicators, but they must have been so, or it would have been an issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got everything on that checklist?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

To which I responded, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to go back through it, then.<\/em>\u201d Two mission training cycles, combined with T-38 and H-13 training and experience, made me a believer in using checklists and using them twice. I paged through the Checklist to see if I had not checked off some item.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re in good shape,<\/em>\u201d stated Evans.<\/p>\n

Cernan then asked, \u201cAnd Hawaii [communications acquisition] is what? \u202601:17?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I said, and then asked Evans just to be sure, \u201cYou got the docking probe set?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s [affirmative].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at the modified Flight Plan numbers, I confirmed again, \u201cHawaii is at 01:17:24, and we leave it at 22:54.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at the upper part of America\u2019s<\/em> hatch, I suddenly noticed an unofficial decal left by the Support Crew. \u201cWhat is this stuff. \u2018Commander\u2019s Splashdown Speech?\u2019<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that? What? <\/em>Cernan seemed taken aback as Evans chuckled from the LEB.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommander\u2019s Splashdown\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans interrupted with, \u201cCommander\u2019s Splashdown Speech? What\u2019s it say?<\/em>\u201d He was laughing with me as both of us, and the support crew, had lived with Cernan\u2019s tendency toward being pompous both in private and public.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says, \u2018Commander\u2019s Splashdown Speech\u2019. It\u2019s a decal put on the [hatch] door there with the\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

I figured Cernan had had enough kidding, so I interrupted the humor with a review of what we had done to reconfigure the cabin and prepare America\u2019s <\/em>systems for TLI. \u201cOkay, going backwards [through the checklist], you guys got the SCS attitude reference component check, P52, the optics dust cover, the camera, [I\u2019m] just about finished with the secondary ECS check\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan continued with, \u201cthe ORDEAL mounted and initialized. \u2026Do you want the Flight Plan?<\/em>\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t need it right now,<\/em>\u201d I answered. \u201cI\u2019ve got everything I need in here. I want to give you cue cards [for TLI] so tell me when you want them.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t know where to put them yet.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Well, give me the ones for launch and I will stow them.]<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[I guess we don\u2019t need the] survival kit [for TLI],<\/em>\u201d Evans mumbled, as he rummaged through a stowage compartment.<\/p>\n

Back to the checklist summary, I continued, \u201cUnstow camera, got that; GDC is aligned; SPS is checked except for a couple of items which I\u2019ll do; checked EPS, Fuel Cell purging [done], and the Heaters are ON.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaps are hard to get out,<\/em>\u201d Evans told us. \u201cHey, you want a map?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d I responded.<\/p>\n

\u201cRescue Book \u2013 don\u2019t need that,<\/em>\u201d Evans decided, at least for the time being. I hoped we would not need it after splashdown, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got the EPS configuration [and] MAIN [REG CHECK]\u2026? You guys went through that?<\/em>\u201d Cernan had not been listening when Evans and I went through the ECS MAIN REGULATOR ECS.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a map, somewhere?<\/em>\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

Without answering me, Evans said to Cernan, \u201cHey, see what\u2019s in there, Gene. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s in there.<\/em>\u201d Cernan had moved into the LEB, presumably to help Evans see what was in the various storage compartments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope the [Flight Plan is in there]. \u2026Well, it\u2019s the Systems Data [book], <\/em>Cernan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I hope it is,<\/em>\u201d I replied, wanting to be sure that book was handy in case any problems developed with the systems I was responsible for monitoring.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026and the Flight Plan, Volume 1, \u2026and Malfunctions [Procedures],<\/em>\u201d continued Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, that\u2019s good,<\/em>\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

Looking into where they were rummaging through the compartments, I commented, \u201cLet\u2019 see [that]. This looks like a LM (Lunar Module) thing here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?<\/em>\u201d Cernan asked and looking at what I had grabbed. \u201cOh, we don\u2019t need that yet.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

We pulled Volume One of the Flight Plan from its launch stowage location and noted the first of many inserts placed there by the Support Crew. This one was quite risqu\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that!<\/em>\u201d I exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it in there?<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, not believing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that in the Flight Plan?<\/em>\u201d Evans was incredulous.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, those son of a guns!<\/em>\u201d Cernan said as we all laughed. \u201cThose finks! …Look at those finks!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did they do?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverywhere [on the page]. Look at it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose finks! Oh, my gosh. That is almost a crime. How can I peel that off [the Flight Plan page]?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Still laughing, Evans declared, \u201cWe got to peel that off to get to it (read that part of the Flight Plan).<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could anybody do that? [And] over Hawaii!<\/em>\u201d exclaimed Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGene,<\/em>\u201d I said, \u201cnever saw that one before it was in there.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Journey\u2019s Lift-off receipt?\u2019<\/em>\u201d The support crew had struck, again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Earthlings. We\u2019re back with you,\u201d I called when I heard the communications uplink come to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Read you loud and clear [through Hawaii]; how us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re loud and clear. And no change, systems-wise, that I\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Any more MASTER ALARMs?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had one when Ron\u2026 Looked like his neck ring hit Panel 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Sounds like we had something loose in Panel 2, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. \u2026It may be annoying, but so far, it doesn\u2019t seem to be a problem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Just for your information, everything is looking outstanding and no problems. We\u2019re taking a good look at the data here at Hawaii, and we\u2019ll make a GO\/NO GO decision about 60 seconds after acquisition at Goldstone [California antenna]. But there\u2019s nothing right now to lead us to believe that Zero Opportunity will be required.\u201d This \u201cZero Opportunity\u201d referred to the case when the S-IVB could not be used to leave earth orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d I replied, \u201cunderstand that. We are prepared; however, [the] spacecraft, other than those MASTER ALARMs, is looking very good. We got the Docking Probe extended. The SCS reference attitude check is complete. \u2026Hey, Bob, I just remembered another switch that I think gave us a MASTER ALARM was H2<\/sub>O QUANTITY INDICATOR.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Copy that, Jack. \u2026We\u2019re going to lose you in about 30 seconds. But when you get over the stateside here, we\u2019re going to take the [telemetry] dump on the data, and we\u2019ll read it out real carefully so when you get in TLC (TransLunar Coast) we ought to be able to see where that MASTER ALARM glitch is coming in to (from).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. And yell at me if you want anything done on the comm. With this change in AOS-LOS stuff.\u201d Here, I referred to the antenna configuration that might need to be modified.<\/p>\n

\u201cNegative on that right now. We\u2019ll see you at 01:28:59 through Goldstone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, 01:28:59, Bob. We\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Control. 1 hour 25 minutes after liftoff. During the post-launch press conference at Cape Kennedy, we had a short acquisition with the crew through the Hawaiian tracking station. During that period of conversation, and during that period of monitoring the systems on the spacecraft and the launch vehicle, we found that the situation was essentially unchanged. That is, both vehicles now looking good; the spacecraft and the launch vehicle. And we\u2019re progressing toward a normal TransLunar injection, 1 hour 46 minutes 50 seconds from now.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crew has discussed one unexplained series of events. It appears that when certain switches are cycled or moved on panel 2 which is the main panel in front of them, the center panel of the spacecraft, they\u2019re getting a Master Caution and Warning signal. A [red] light comes on \u2013 a tone comes on. This is to attract the crew\u2019s attention that something may be wrong and the normal procedure is then to look at another matrix of [yellow Caution] lights which would zero them in on the problem. The light\u2026 the system or the subsystem or particular area being monitored, or which had the problem would light an individual [yellow Caution] light. However, when they go to this other matrix of lights, they find that none of them are lighted. This is leading the crew and the flight controllers here in mission control to believe that they are getting a [spurious] signal to the Master Caution and Warning, when in fact nothing is wrong. We don\u2019t have any further explanation for the problem at this point. We will continue to look at the data and particularly during the TransLunar Coast, we think we\u2019ll get a good long time to look at things in detail and try to find out precisely what is happening. At this point however, the problem presents no concern and one of the more likely explanations \u2013 a possible explanation that\u2019s been advanced is perhaps some contamination in some switches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFive minutes, we\u2019ll be over the States, guys,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reminded us. \u201cLet\u2019s turn the lights down a little bit.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou start to see a glow [of West Coast lights],<\/em>\u201d Evans speculated. \u201cThere is a glow. See the horizon?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got pretty good eyes,<\/em>\u201d I said. \u201cOh, yes, there it is. \u2026Guess what I\u2019ve lost\u2026[the] camera. \u2026You see a camera floating around anywhere? \u2026I got it.<\/em>\u201d Got some laughs out loud at the dialog with myself.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, while you\u2019re down there, <\/em>Cernan requested, \u201ckick my suit up. I want to bag it up.<\/em>\u201d He had taken his suit off while I had my brief discussion with Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere it is,<\/em>\u201d replied Evans, having unstowed the suit bags during his search through the various compartments in the LEB.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee that glow out there, Gene?<\/em>\u201d Evans asked after he and Cernan had the suit in the bag. \u201cIs that the sunrise?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m looking out at the north horizon.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what they call a [zodiacal light],<\/em>\u201d I added\u2026 \u201cBoy,<\/em> did you see us go through that damn S-IVB fire? What was it?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the S-II staging,<\/em>\u201d Cernan explained. \u201cWe went through the S-II fireball, because it takes awhile for the S-IV to light up.<\/em>\u201d Actually, in that interval, we very briefly stopped accelerating and the expanding fireball caught up with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s what it was,<\/em>\u201d I agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026on that [Gemini] Titan, between the S-I and the S-II, you get that because there was a pause [in acceleration] and a fireball would overlap you. And you could fly right through the flash, smoke and flame wall.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026we sure enough did it, I tell you. It (S-II fire ball) wasn\u2019t awfully bright, <\/em>I said.<\/p>\n

We saw all three stagings, now, or all three ignitions,<\/em>\u201d Cernan claimed, although only he had a window out of which he could view these.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes,<\/em>\u201d Evans confirmed, then exclaiming, \u201cThere\u2019s the old dipper!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Continuing on the previous theme, I said, \u201cThat tower [jettison] was spectacular!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it was,<\/em>\u201d Cernan had to agree.<\/p>\n

Laughing, Evans added, \u201cThat tower really went!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at the stars,<\/em>\u201d Cernan said, \u201cGee, Jack, this is right, you get north, [I mean], you\u2019re always on my north [side in both the] Command Module and in the LM.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking,<\/em>\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n

Evans commented, having moved back to the LEB, \u201cOught to look at these optics at nighttime, I guess.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got to do another P52, by the way,<\/em>\u201d Cernan reminded him after opening the Flight Plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do it now?<\/em><\/p>\n

Thing about the \u201cCommander\u2019s Splashdown Speech\u201d decal, again, Cernan said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe that guy did that to me. Not for me, but to me\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans and I both laughed at his quasi-concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext P52, Ron, comes at about [one plus] 28 [minutes],<\/em> Cernan reminded Evans. \u201cWhich should be just about 45 [seconds].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, there\u2019s Orion!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAOS Goldstone is [also] at 28,<\/em>\u201d I added.<\/p>\n

\u201c28,<\/em>\u201d Cernan repeated. \u201cWe ought to be able to see California in the dark. There\u2019s Baja [California]. <\/em>Cernan probably had picked up the lights of Ensenada, an area of Baja that I had visited for ten days on a Geology Department field trip during Caltech\u2019s 1954 Spring Break. My mind briefly filled with memories of camping under the stars, listening to the sounds of rocks grinding in nearby surf, hiking though heat and cactus, harvesting abalone from the tide pools, and, regrettably, filling canteens with Santa Tomas Ros\u00e9 instead of water before a long climb.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a good feeling for where our Flight Plan [ground track] is right now; does anybody [else]?<\/em>\u201d I was anxious to try to see familiar features in Mexico and the southwest U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,<\/em>\u201d Cernan asserted in answer to my question. Basically, he said, \u201c[our] 90-degree launch azimuth means we\u2019re\u2026[approaching] our launch latitude which is the latitude for the Cape\u2026[actually, a latitude a little bit higher] than the Cape, because [the launch azimuth] actually was 91 and a half.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going across Arizona [on this track],<\/em> I mused, \u201cand that\u2019s Baja California, probably. \u2026Turn on your lights, San Diego. Boy, it\u2019s [the track] pretty near over my home [in New Mexico], I guess.<\/em>\u201d The reference to turning on city lights harkened back to John Glenn\u2019s orbit track over Darwin when they turned on the city lights for him.<\/p>\n

One hour and 28 minutes after liftoff, Overmyer called again: \u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re back with you [through Goldstone].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan replied. \u201cWe\u2019re still same as before and ready when you are for TLI.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see the lights of southern California, Bob,\u201d as I began the short travel-log across America. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be going a little bit south of that area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. Your ground track looks like it\u2019s taking you right up over the mid part of Baja California.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir; I\u2019ll believe that. I\u2019ll bet you I can see Ensenada right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans came in from the LEB with, \u201cBob, I expect he\u2019ll probably be able to see the lights of Silver City, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m sure going to be looking for them, I\u2019ll tell you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack,\u201d said Overmyer a minute or so later, \u201cjust for your information\u2026when you come up a little farther in this orbit here and get over Mexico, you should be able to see all that bad weather that was giving us so much worry [for the launch] and had Tindall [Air Force Base, Florida] and New Orleans [Naval Air Station] and everything all messed up this morning when I went through there [in a T-38]. They had a pretty bad line of weather along there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI assume it wasn\u2019t too bad. I think you made it didn\u2019t you?\u201d I said a little facetiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, I made it, but I had to\u2026work at it. But\u2026I was worried about it getting down towards MILA (Merritt Island Launch Annex, tracking station adjacent to Cape Kennedy) there after\u2026if we had to scrub [the launch] and go tomorrow night. Boy, I am sure glad we got you off tonight!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess who else is!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I can\u2019t\u2026 I wouldn\u2019t believe that\u2026[Bob] Parker can\u2019t make it back [in a T-38]. He\u2019s got to come back on the [NASA Gulfstream]. So you might have to have [John] Young on for a while after we do TLI.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d I broke in, \u201cyou just wouldn\u2019t believe, Bob, the lights you can see in the West right now. It must be absolutely clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Sounds spectacular\u2026Jack, people in the room here want to know if you\u2019ve been down your checklist yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d I exaggerated, \u201cwe got that out of the way in about 5 minutes. Have we missed something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a different checklist here we\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then I understood what Overmyer referred to and laughed. \u201cIf you\u2019re talking about the Flight Plan, yes!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d This last referred one of the traditional pinups, humorous comments, or dumb statements that the Support Crew inserted between or on the pages of various documents we had onboard. One of their most common statements for us was a play on Cernan\u2019s motto for Apollo 17, \u201cThe End of the Beginning,\u201d such as, at the end of a checklist section, writing, \u201cThis is the End, not the Beginning.\u201d In this case, the insert was probably a Playboy pinup because Evans exclaimed, \u201cWhat a waste!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I am not mistaken,\u201d continuing my narrative, \u201cwe must be just south of Arizona now. Is that right, Bob?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat looks real good. Yes, you\u2019re over Mexico, there, and looks like you\u2019re\u2026maybe a hundred miles south of the Border, there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I was pretty sure I was looking up in the Phoenix-Tucson complex there. \u2026Clear night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle better than Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe West is always that way. I wish it were daylight so we could see Sonora and that country. That\u2019s spectacular, I\u2019ll bet you. \u2026Man\u2019s fields of lights on Earth is competing with the heavens, Bob,\u201d I mused. \u201cOkay, I think we got the Gulf Coast showing up now by the band of lights [I see ahead].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d interjected Cernan, \u201cyou\u2019re coming through with a large squeal right now in the background. \u2026Assume the booster is still looking good, and we\u2019ll be GO for a nominal TLI.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re still coming up with a loud squeal.\u201d For several minutes, Cernan and Overmyer discussed this until Houston found it was a ground problem. As I had not changed anything on the radio control panel, the chances were good that this would be the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, how do you read?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Bob, you still got the loud squeal.\u201d<\/p>\n

After some action was taken in Mission Control, Overmyer called, \u201cSeventeen, are you receiving Houston now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, Bob. You came up unreadable with the squeal that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

A short interval passed, and Overmyer tried again, \u201cAm I still squealing? This is Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirm. You\u2019re very loud, almost unreadable with the squeal. Bob, why don\u2019t you give us the short count.\u201d It is not clear why Cernan felt that \u201cshort count\u201d would help solve the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you believe,\u201d I continued in my worst Maxwell Smart impersonation (Get Smart<\/em>, T.V. comedy series from 1965-1970), \u201cwe\u2019re just south of Houston now, Bob? \u2026I\u2019m not sure exactly where we are, but I\u2019m looking out [east] to an awful lot of lights on the horizon out there at 12 o\u2019clock and an awful lot of lightning in the clouds out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We show you just about over the middle of the Gulf [of Mexico]. Looking ahead you\u2019re probably south of the very southern tip of Florida there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like almost the entire Florida peninsula has got lights \u2013 got lightning on it somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. How does my comm. sound to you now, Geno?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, give me a quick short count,\u201d Cernan replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Short count follows: five, four, three, two, one, one, two, three, four, five. \u2026Short count out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, you\u2019re all right now. \u2026And,\u201d asked Cernan, \u201ccan you give us a feel for what the final weather was at the Cape\u2026at launch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, let me get that for you. The reason why we had that problem on the comm is we just handed over from Texas to MILA [in Florida], and you\u2019re going through MILA now. And it\u2019s great. So we have a little problem with our Texas [communications] site. \u2026The television coverage [of launch] had you all the way through [S-I] staging and the S-II ignition. Then, you went right behind a cloud for a while, but they were tracking you pretty well\u2026 They also cut in for about a half minute or so and showed a view of the crowd in just the available light from the booster, and it stood out pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d I interrupted. \u201cWe\u2019re going right over Florida now, looking down at Miami. A beautiful view of the Keys all lit up\u2026and I just saw a shooting star right over Miami! …That\u2019s a very, very fine view of Miami. Hard to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet they sat there and watched you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fight plan-generated urgency of preparations for leaving these fascinating scenes of Earth had intervened until I was able to steal a nighttime glance at a cloud-covered Arizona, New Mexico and home. My mother and my sister, Armena, and her family were in Tucson only about 150 miles away. My other sister and her daughters, Janis and Linda, were still in Florida, waiting for their flight back to San Francisco and home. Diffuse glows of the lights of Tucson, Albuquerque and El Paso penetrated late autumn stratus. In fact, clouds covered the entire United States except much of the Southwest and Florida. We knew it would be clear at the Cape because we had left there only an orbit earlier\u2013 just an hour and a half ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

An hour and a half! It hardly seemed real to this space rookie, no matter how much I had heard from others before. I told friends on the airwaves that \u201ca field of stars on Earth is competing with the heavens . . . [We] are going right over Florida now, looking down at Miami. A beautiful view of the Keys all lit up…and I just saw a shooting star [beneath] us right over Miami!\u201d Beneath us! How can you beat that!<\/span><\/p>\n

Banded sunrises change in a few minutes from deepest black to brilliant blue to desert orange to purest yellow to searing daylight and then back at sunset in never-ending progression. In daylight, the Earth displays tinted oceans and quilted continents with patterns wrought during four and a half billion years of time, dark-shadowed thunderheads and dazzling snows ever varying in their beauty and scientific mysteries. Civilization\u2019s warm fields and patterns of lights by night and farms and roads by day are seen without the inevitable boundaries that stimulated our presence in space.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

Second Orbit of Earth<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like we\u2019re right over the Bahamas now, Bob,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. I\u2019ll buy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not easily impressed, Bob,\u201d I continued. \u201cBut I\u2019m certainly impressed by this one!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. What\u2019s the CMP doing? We haven\u2019t heard much from him. Is he at the other window?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s crawling around looking for things down in the LEB,\u201d Evans responded.<\/p>\n

Laughing, Overmyer kidded, \u201cThey won\u2019t let you have a window tonight, huh, Ron.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019ll catch one here pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a reminder, if you haven\u2019t already done it, there is no need to un-stow the TV, because, due to this late launch, there\u2019s just no site available.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan acknowledged. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to un-stow it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d I followed up, \u201cI guess there\u2019s no site available for some time, is that correct?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative. And if I can pull one of you guys away from a window, I\u2019ve got a TLI plus 90 [minutes] PAD (Preliminary Advisory Data).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d I replied, \u201cI\u2019d love to copy that! \u2026Just a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Houston,\u201d I called a short time later after repeated tries. \u201cApollo 17. How do you read?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Lost you there for a minute. We had good signal strength all through that, so I figured it was your problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re just waiting here\u2026 You ready for the PAD?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were calling you, and you missed us. So you might think about that [i.e., why?]. Ready for the PAD.\u201d Overmyer gave me the P30 computer loads we would use if some spacecraft problem forced us to use the SPS to return to Earth without communications after a successful TLI burn . \u201cOkay. It\u2019s a TLI plus 90 (minutes) [PAD]. [Propulsion system and guidance is] SPS\/G&N [P30 maneuver], [Weight for NOUN 47] 66953 (pounds); [NOUN 48 trim] minus 0.59 (pitch), plus 1.88 (yaw); ignition time 004:40; 01:48; [XYZ DELTA-Vs] [X is] minus 0351 point 8, [Y is] minus 0000 point 1, [Z is] plus 3378 point 2; [Burn attitude] roll is 180, [pitch] 073, [yaw] 003; NOUN 42 (height of apogee and perigee and total DELTA-V) is HA<\/sub> is not applicable, HP <\/sub>(perigee) is plus 0020 point 1 (nm), 3396 point 4 (feet per second); [burn time] 4:50 (minutes), [DELTA Vc] 3380 point 8 (feet per second); Sextant Star is number 11 (Aldebaran) \u2013 that\u2019s one one; [Settings for Sextant Star], [shaft] 342 point 4, [trunnion] 32 point 3. \u2026Stand by, Seventeen, Houston. Are you still reading me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Houston,\u201d I transmitted, \u201cif you read, we\u2019re reading you. Got you all the way through the trunnion on [the] sextant star.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019ll have to wait and pick you up at Ascension. We just had a \u2018keyhole\u2019 pass at Bermuda and a little bit of a pass at Vanguard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll wait for you to finish that [PAD] and on the read back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative,\u201d Overmyer continued. \u201cStand by. \u2026We\u2019ve [still] got Vanguard, [so] I can continue on with\u2026after trunnion, the bore-sight Star is not applicable, Jack. NOUN 61 (splashdown location), [north latitude] plus 13 point 25 (degrees), [west longitude] minus 032 point 00 (degrees); [Range to splashdown point] 1099 point 2 (nm), [Predicted inertial velocity] 34904 (feet per second); GET of point 05g [deceleration at start of entry] 024:38:09. Want to read back that much of the PAD, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

I proceeded to read back the entire TLI plus 90 PAD that had come in two batches.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger Jack,\u201d responded Overmyer. Good read-back except burn time is 4:50 and not 4:54. And we\u2019ll be losing you here in about a minute, so wait on the rest of that PAD. Just a reminder for Ron, we\u2019ll be standing by at Ascension for the next gyro torquing and we might have a drift update on the IMU there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, he copied that,\u201d I replied. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll wait for the rest of the PAD. \u2026Burn time was 4:50. I think that was when you started to cut out.\u201d[11]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Apollo Control at 1 hour 51 minutes. We\u2019re getting good telemetry data from Apollo 17 through one of the Apollo Range Instrumented Aircraft out over the Atlantic Ocean. Apollo 17 is moving across the Atlantic now towards Africa. And on the next revolution, at about this point, the spacecraft will be on its way to the Moon during the TransLunar Injection maneuver. Ignition for that burn is scheduled to occur 1 hour 21 minutes from now.<\/span><\/p>\n

During launch, the Flight Surgeon monitoring heart rates on the 3 crewmen recorded peak heart rates of 130 for the Commander Gene Cernan, also 130 for Command Module Pilot, Ron Evans, and 115 for Lunar Module Pilot, Jack Schmitt. We should be reacquiring the Command Service Module and reestablishing voice communications with the astronauts in about 2 minutes from now through Ascension.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Once we lost communications with Houston, Evans completed another scheduled P52 star alignment of the IMU. About eight minutes after our last transmission, and after a number of tries through ARIA, Overmyer reached us: \u201cSeventeen, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. You\u2019re back with us. I\u2019ll finish up that TLI plus 90 PAD so we can talk a little bit here if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. Set Stars are Sirius and Rigel; RALIGN <\/sub>(attitude) is [roll] 318, [pitch] 148, [yaw] 358. There\u2019ll be no ullage. Okay, down at the bottom of the PAD we\u2019ve got the P37 (Return to Earth program) for Lift-off plus 9. GET [ignition] is 009:00; [Total] DELTA-VT<\/sub> 4897; [West] longitude minus 175; GET of 400K, 033:49. Over.\u201d The \u201cLift-off plus 9\u201d term related back to the possible use of a P30 SPS abort maneuver to return to Earth nine hours after lift-off from Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d I called after I read back just the numbers of the remainder of the TLI + 90 minutes PAD. \u201cWe had, as usual for up here, a spectacular sunrise\u2026and Gene wants to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got some numbers on Ron\u2019s P52 for you, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d replied Overmyer, \u201cstanding by to copy. Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, NOUN 71 (stars used) were stars 22 (Regulus) and 24 (Gienah); NOUN 05 (Angular error) are all balls (zeros); Noun 93s (Change in gyro angles) are all minus \u2013 they\u2019re 00 point 037, 00 point 007, and 00 point 021. That\u2019s minus 37, minus 07, and minus 21; and they were torqued at 01:51:40.\u201d Evans\u2019 star sightings resulted in very small torquing (correction) angles for America\u2019s<\/em> guidance system\u2019s gyroscopes.<\/p>\n

Then I began to insert my first of what would become many weather observations as we flew towards the Moon. \u201cBob, we\u2019re over\u2026intermediate to low [cloud] strata that have a very strong crenulation pattern \u2013 pulling out some geological terms here. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen anything like it flying [in a T-38]\u2026 (during my many long cross-country flights over the years, I had always made a point to record observations of clouds on my flight plan card clipped to my knee pad.) Looks like about a north-south lineation with a very strong crinkling [running] roughly east-west.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, …that\u2019s interesting. You know, you\u2019re just directly over that South Atlantic area. \u2026Your path [this orbit] just kind of kept you going right between\u2026Africa and South America, right dead center all the way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Seventeen,\u201d Overmyer added a few moments later, \u201cjust for your information, we\u2019ve searched all the data we can, and we cannot find anything wrong with the spacecraft, or the booster, at all. Everything is looking real fine, and the only problem [still] in the air is\u2026those Master Alarms that you have reported. We\u2019re not able to tie in anything common yet to any of those things\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan broke in, \u201cwe have not had any for quite some time, I think, [at least] since the last time we talked to you about them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand. We\u2019ll probably get a good workout on that after TLI and try to track it down one more time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but we have not really been doing much switching since the Insertion Checklist was complete, either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand. It\u2019s got you glued to the windows, I guess, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I certainly am, Bob,\u201d I responded, \u201cand again there\u2019s a big, fairly continuous intermediate cloud deck, \u2026and it has patterns comparable to what I have seen on pictures of ice floes\u2026and of pack ice; I should say pictures of pack ice in the Antarctic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

New patterns suddenly jump into view. Over the South Atlantic, between Africa and South America, a solid layer of morning clouds lies crenulated from one horizon to the other like an old washboard. Jagged breaks in those wrinkled strata give the illusion of polar pack ice fracturing and moving apart (Fig. 5.6<\/strong>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.6.<\/strong> View of cloud deck over the South Atlantic showing features like ice floes. Note also the thin band of blue at the Earth horizon that constitutes the Earth\u2019s atmosphere. (NASA photo A17-148-22619).<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019ve got two questions concerning the Master Alarms. One, do you get the Master Alarm on the LEB (Lower Equipment Bay) also; and, two, do you get the tone with the Master Alarm?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe did get the tones,\u201d I answered. \u201cThe Master Alarms were on [came with switch movement and bumps against] Panel 1 and Panel 3. I can\u2019t tell you about the LEB right now. Maybe Ron can.\u201d It is not clear why I mentioned Panels 1 and 3 at this point, as previously, I had said that the problem appeared to be with Panel 2. I had begun to think that the problem related to a solder ball moving around, and it had finally permanently lodged somewhere. On the other hand, there should have been no bare connections or wires behind Panel 2 that a solder ball could encounter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t pay that much attention,\u201d added Evans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan continued, \u201cAnd, Bob, there was something interesting I wanted to get around to tell you. The MISSION TIMER down in the LEB \u2013 when Ron went down there to get things squared away \u2013 was about 15 seconds or so behind all the other clocks\u2026and we reset it \u2013 re-synced it \u2013 and it\u2019s been running okay. I don\u2019t know whether that\u2019s a clue to anything or not, but apparently it happened either during launch or somewhere before we got down there right after Insertion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019re going to lose you here in about nine seconds. You are GO and looking great, and we\u2019ll work on it. And if you get another Master Alarm, will you check the LEB for us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir; sure will do, Bob. We\u2019ll see you. What\u2019s our next AOS?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStand by. \u2026 It\u2019s Carnarvon at 02:25.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control. Apollo 17 now over the horizon from the Ascension [antenna] site \u2013 will be reacquiring in about 25 minutes through Carnarvon. And, as you heard CAPCOM Robert Overmyer advising the crew, we\u2019ve been getting a good look at all the data, and spacecraft and launch vehicles look fine. No discernible problems. Gene Cernan did mention one anomaly and that was the mission timer. One of the numerous clocks aboard the spacecraft, which was running about 15 minutes (seconds) slow, and someone said it appeared that it happened either during the launch phase or shortly before they got down to take a look at it in the Lower Equipment Bay. No explanation for that one at this point. And we show now one minute \u2013 1 hour, rather \u2013 11 minutes until ignition for the TransLunar Injection maneuver; the burn with the Saturn Third stage which will place Apollo 17 on its trajectory toward the Moon. Ignition time and still holding at about 3 hours 12 minutes 35 seconds Ground Elapsed Time; and that burn will be about 5 minutes 45 seconds in duration; but we don\u2019t have the final calculated time from the flight dynamics officer which will undoubtedly vary somewhat from the pre-mission flight plan time. At 2 hours 2 minutes this is Apollo Control Houston.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I had checked off all the pre-TLI items in the Launch Checklist, we now had about 20 minutes to enjoy the views and take pictures out America\u2019s<\/em> windows before setting up the switches and displays for the TLI burn that would take us to the Moon. Spurious MASTER ALARMs without any Caution and Warning lights seem to be associated with moving switches on Panel 2. Other than this apparently non-critical issue, possibly due to a migrating solder ball, all the telemetry we were sending back indicated that both the spacecraft and the S-IVB remained in great shape and okay for leaving Earth for the Moon. That burn would begin during our second orbit, about 3 hours and 12 minutes after we left Florida.<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control, 2 hours 25 minutes. Apollo 17 now approaching the west coast of Australia. And we\u2019ll be reacquiring the spacecraft in about 35 seconds. During this pass over Carnarvon we expect to pass up the first set of numbers to the crew that they\u2019ll use in the TransLunar Injection burn to put them on their trajectory toward the Moon. That maneuver is scheduled to begin at 47 minutes from now. And we have acquisition of signal a little bit early.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. How are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d I responded, \u201cwe\u2019re pretty good. \u2026You\u2019re wavering here a little bit on signal strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019ve got a TLI Pad any time you\u2019re ready to copy it, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodness! Okay, let me get rid of something here (probably the Checklist). Ron, I\u2019m putting that right underneath you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, guys,\u201d added Overmyer, \u201cwe\u2019d like P00 (always pronounced \u2018poo\u2019) and ACCEPT, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

Apparently not hearing me, Overmyer came back with, \u201cYou\u2019ll get a CSM state vector if you\u2019ll give us P00 and ACCEPT.\u201d P00 was the idling program in America\u2019s<\/em> computer and a switch setting to ACCEPT allowed Mission Control to remotely insert a state vector into the computer based on Evans\u2019 P52 star sightings and the ground tracking of our orbit and velocity. The state vector consists of a time-referenced representation of three parameters (vectors) of our position and three parameters of our velocity in inertial space. This state vector now gave our position and velocity relative to our landing site on the Moon as a result of the earlier change of the computer\u2019s REFSMAT (inertial reference framework) from that of the launch site to the landing site.<\/p>\n

\u201c[You] got P00 and ACCEPT,\u201d confirmed Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I said as I grabbed the TLI PAD form, \u201clet me have my favorite PAD!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, here\u2019s the TLI PAD. TIME BASE 6 at 3:02:57; [TLI attitude] 180 [roll], 312 [pitch], 000 [yaw]; [Burn Time] 5:51; DELTA-Vc is 10359.6 (cutoff velocity gained in feet per second); [final velocity] 34482 (feet per second); [separation will be at] 000 [roll], 345 [pitch], 040 [yaw]; [Challenger<\/em>] extraction will be at 300 [roll], 165 [pitch], 320 [yaw]; [R2 Alignment] 312.0, [R2 Ignition] 306.0; [ORDEAL start time] 57:10; yaw is zero; [Challenger<\/em>] ejection time 4 plus 39 plus 00.\u201d<\/p>\n

After I repeated the PAD back to him, Overmyer said, \u201cGood read-back, Jack; and we would like OMNI Charlie; and it\u2019s your computer (CSM state vector update was complete); and you\u2019ve got your state vector.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You\u2019ve got OMNI Charlie. And, Bob, we had almost a completely weather-free pass over Africa and Madagascar. And the scenery \u2013 both aesthetically and geologically \u2013 was something like I\u2019ve never seen before, for sure. \u2026We got odds and ends on the tape[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> and quite a bit on the film.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger; good show. Are you saying that you didn\u2019t have any weather over the southern Africa, there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot very much. Barely broken clouds in some places. Most of the countryside was clear. \u2026There were patterns like I haven\u2019t seen in textbooks. Maybe I haven\u2019t been looking enough, but some of the desert and grassland patterns\u2026had the appearance of ice crystals almost, except on a mega-scale \u2013 if you have ever looked at ice crystals in sand\u2026or better yet, ice crystals on your car windows when you get out early in the morning up in northern areas.\u201d (Fig. 5.7<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.7.<\/strong> (Upper<\/em>): Apollo 17 view of the savannah of Africa\u2019s Kalahari showing the feather patterns left by range fires. (Lower<\/em>): detail of white smoke lines from some of the range fires (NASA photo AS17-148-22636).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. And just be advised, we\u2019ll be standing by for the GO\/NO GO for PYRO ARM when we get to Hawaii, and we\u2019ll be giving you a GO for TLI about that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I acknowledged, \u201cand we\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Ron,\u201d Overmyer quickly inserted, \u201cin the Launch Checklist, on [page] 2-25, on the manual and nominal S-IVB TLI-I, add 34 degrees on the Nominal PAD for all the pitch angles; and on the Manual PAD, add 34.5 degrees to all the pitch angles, and you\u2019ll have it right.\u201d These modifications related to the two hour and forty minute delay in our launch that in turn required that TLI take place at a different point in inertial space relative to the Moon\u2019s orbit. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll want to do that on your cue card also, Ron.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s affirm.\u201d Ron immediately made the changes on the cue card while I recorded them in the Launch Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re about ready for LOS; we\u2019ll see you at Hawaii.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob, we\u2019ll see you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[At] zero two plus 50 at Hawaii,\u201d responded Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [two plus] 50. And we\u2019ll be into our TLI checklist, and we\u2019ll be ready for that PYRO ARM [check].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control. We\u2019ll be reacquiring the spacecraft in about 18 minutes. And during that pass over Carnarvon, and we\u2019ve passed up the numbers to the crew they\u2019ll use in the TransLunar Injection maneuver. The burn is targeted to last 5 minutes 51 seconds with a change in velocity of some 10,359 feet per second. [and] accelerating Apollo 17 to the required speed to get it into an orbit that will intercept the Moon. And the time of ignition [is] 3 hours 12 minutes 35 seconds; and we\u2019re showing an ejection time [for the Lunar Module] of 4 hours 39 minutes. The [time for the] Transposition and Docking maneuver, which precedes ejection, is somewhat fluid in that it\u2019s done when the crew and Mission Control are ready following TransLunar Injection. However, from the projected time for ejection, it would appear that Transposition and Docking will occur about 25 to 30 minutes ahead of the nominal flight plan time. And we\u2019re now 39 minutes away from the scheduled ignition for TransLunar Injection. At 2 hours 34 minutes this is Apollo Control, Houston.<\/span><\/p>\n

With loss of signal through Canarvon, I began to read through the TLI PREPARATION portion of the Checklist and Cernan and Evans took and confirmed each required action.<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify TRANSLUNAR in INJECT.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify EMERGENCY DETECTION SYSTEM POWER \u2013 ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow you do an EMS (ENTRY MONITOR SYSTEM) DELTA V TEST AND NULL BIAS CHECK.\u201d<\/span> I told Evans. \u201cLet me turn to page G\/2-5 in the G&C (GUIDANDE and CONTROL) Checklist for that.\u201d<\/span> This check of the Entry Monitor System prepared it for the possibility that TLI would not occur and, for some reason, we needed to re-enter and land.<\/p>\n

After finding the G&C Checklist, I began: \u201cEMS MODE switch to STANDBY\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSTANDBY,\u201d<\/span> repeated Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cEMS FUNCTION switch to DELTA V SET\/VHF RANGING.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSET DELTA V indicator to one\u2026five\u2026eight\u2026six point eight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGot it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, EMS MODE goes back to NORMAL and EMS FUNCTION to DELTA V TEST. The SPS THRUST LIGHT should come ON and then OFF in about ten seconds\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNORMAL and TEST\u2026Light is ON\u2026and OFF\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS MODE back to STANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSTANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS FUNCTION back to DELTA V SET\/VHF RANGING.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, SET DELTA V indicator to one hundred point zero.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred point zero.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor this part of the check, put the CMC MODE switch to FREE and leave it there until we finish with the BIAS measurement.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFREE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, now EMS FUNCTION again goes to DELTA V and we wait five seconds and start the DET (Digital Event Timer).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDELTA V. \u2026Timer started.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow we wait for one minute and forty seconds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the indicated time, Evans said, \u201cDELTA V shows less than one foot per second so we do not need to bias readings we may get. Good.\u201d<\/span> If the reading had been equal to or greater than one but less than ten feet per second, we could use the indicated bias. If it had been greater than 10, the Entry Monitor System would have been \u201cNO-GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo finish up, put EMS FUNCTION to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With the procedure out of the way, I went back to the TLI PREP Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cSet DELTA V CUTOFF. That\u2019s 10359.6 [feet per second] from our TLI PAD.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, that\u2019s ten\u2026zero\u2026three\u2026five\u2026nine point six.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCorrect. Now, EMS to DELTA V.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGDC (GYRO DISPLAY COUPLER) \u2013 ALIGN\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSet the DIGITAL AUTOPILOT with a Verb 48 ENTER, and enter 31102 and 01111.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVERB 48 ENTER, three\u2026one\u2026one\u2026zero\u2026two and zero and four ones.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCorrect, now, Key VERB 83 ENTER.\u201d<\/span> This entry provided a DISKEY display of the \u201crendezvous parameters\u201d of RANGE, RANGE RATE, and THETA which would be helpful during transposition and docking after TLI.<\/p>\n

\u201cSet ORDEAL to 90\/EARTH.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control at 2 hours 49 minutes. We\u2019re standing by now to acquire radio contact with Apollo 17 through Hawaii. During this Hawaiian pass we\u2019re getting another good look at spacecraft and launch vehicle systems. The last look we had through Carnarvon everything looked very good. Flight Director, Gene Kranz, going over the status for these flight controllers observed that there appeared to be no problems that would interfere with TLI and we expect to have a normal TransLunar Injection about 23 minutes from now as Apollo 17 completes its stateside pass and moves out over the Atlantic Ocean at the start of its third revolution [of the Earth].<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApollo 17, Houston.\u201d Two hours and 50 minutes after launch, and we were back talking to Overmyer in Houston through an antenna in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston, this is Apollo 17,\u201d Evans also replied, not hearing me. \u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Ron, you\u2019re sounding great. Good voice here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGolly, we\u2019ve got things all set up here and we\u2019re kind of standing by for a Logic Check, whenever you guys can give us a GO.\u201d The Logic Check referred to Mission Control looking at the telemetry from the pyrotechnic system that would separate us from the S-IVB either after TLI or in an emergency. This check would see if all the automatic decision logic for such a separation looked to be in order.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. As soon as we get some TM (telemetry) in here, we\u2019ll give you a GO [for the Logic Check].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re ready for the Logic Check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan replied, as the circuit breakers and switches necessary for the Logic Check were on his side of America\u2019s<\/em> cabin. \u201cWait one. \u2026Okay, SECS ARM breakers are closed\u2026and LOGIC 1 is ON. \u2026MARK it. \u2026And LOGIC 2 is ON. \u2026MARK it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ten seconds later, Overmyer came back with, \u201cSeventeen, you\u2019re GO for PYRO ARM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Understand GO for PYRO ARM.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was the cue for me to continue reading the TLI PREPARATION Checklist again:<\/p>\n

\u201cSEQUENCIAL EVENTS CONTROL SYSTEM (pyros), two, go to ARM.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTRANSLATIONAL CONTROL POWER \u2013 ON, both.\u201d<\/span> A counter clockwise rotation of this T-handle control by Cernan, of course, would separate us from the S-IVB if it developed a significant problem during the TLI burn.<\/p>\n

\u201cROTATIONAL CONTROL POWER NORMAL, two, go to AC\/DC, verify.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo verified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cROTATIONAL CONTROL POWER DIRECT, two, go to MAIN A\/MAIN B.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo to MAIN A\/MAIN B.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSPACECRAFT CONTROL \u2013 SCS (Stabilization Control System), verify.\u201d<\/span> This backup RCS control system could be used if S-IVB separation from the S-IVB had been required.<\/p>\n

\u201cSCS verified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLAUNCH VEHICLE \/ SERVICE PROPULSION INDICATOR to S-IVB, verify.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breakers DIRECT ULLAGE, two \u2013 close.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd finally, for now, set the DIGITAL EVENT TIMER to 51:00.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSet at 51:00.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, with that preparatory sequence taken care of, I added a little more color commentary. \u201cAnd, Bob, in case you\u2019re interested, all through the night-side pass here, there\u2019s quite a strong \u2013 well, stronger than I would have ever expected \u2013 horizon glow off to the north. \u2026I think Gene said a while ago that it\u2019s around on his side [of the cabin], also.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger\u2026Guys, I\u2019ve got the word you wanted to hear \u2013 you are GO for TLI \u2013 you are GO for the Moon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Robert,\u201d Cernan acknowledged. \u201cI understand. America<\/em> and Challenger,<\/em> with their S-IVB, are GO for TLI.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a sweet talker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to please here, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, somehow, Bob, I knew you were going to say that \u2013 we were \u2018GO\u2019 \u2013 and that you try to please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been working together too long, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot long enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

This banter back and forth between Cernan and Overmyer seems to dilute the enormity of what had just taken place. On the one hand, another trio of Americans had been given the technical blessing to head for the Moon with the objective to actually spend three days exploring a deep valley cut into its surface. On the other hand, this would be the last time for this to take place for a long time. America had reached the conclusion of its most ambitious and successful feat of technical human endeavor, and as remarkable as Apollo had been, the United States would soon walk away from the future benefits that lay within its reach. Indeed, the decisions leading to this end point began four years before, for reasons history will find difficult to justify \u2013 Apollo 17 merely was playing out the hand dealt to 450,000 dedicated men and women by a few others of limited vision. These thoughts, however, came at a later time. With TLI looming before us, other issues took precedence.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You\u2019re about one minute from LOS, and we\u2019ll pick you up at Goldstone at about three hours and zero zero minutes; and that\u2019s only a couple of minutes prior to Time Base 6 START.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. We\u2019ll be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the last minute, I added more on the horizon glow. \u201cBob, that glow is actually above the horizon, just in case you\u2019re curious. I can see stars below the top (bottom) of the glow [in a dark band] down closer to the Earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, now you need to get into P15 for TLI INITIATE\/CUTOFF. That is with a VERB 37 ENTER and a 15 ENTER.\u201d<\/span> Referring again to the TLI PAD I had copied, I said, \u201cWith the flashing 06 33 (time of ignition) load zero three hours\u2026zero two minutes\u2026and five\u2026seven seconds for TIME BASED 6 and PROCEED\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith flashing 06 14 (velocity at cutoff), load \u20261\u20260\u20263\u20265\u20269\u2026point 6 \u2026and PROCEED\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, with the flashing 06 95, load \u20265 minutes\u2026and 5\u20261 seconds as burn time, all zeros as velocity gained, 3\u20264\u20264\u20268\u20262 and as final velocity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan and I verified each entry. These entries in to the computer prepared it to take over in case a problem arose with the S-IVB guidance.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, verify that LAUNCH VEHICLE GUIDANCE is at IU (Inertial Unit in the S-IVB).\u201d<\/span> Had the LAUNCH GUIDANCE LIGHT had been ON, showing some problem with the IU in the S-IVB, we would have put GUIDANCE to CMC. At the same time, the two RIGHTHAND CONTROLLER POWER DIRECT switches were placed in OFF to avoid any inadvertent interference with the America\u2019s <\/em>guidance systems control of the TLI burn. As the S-IVB IU was not going on to the Moon with us, its failure was not mission critical as long as the CMC was fully functional.<\/p>\n

America\u2019s<\/em> cabin became quite as we watched for the coastal lights of California and Mexico and waited for Overmyer\u2019s next call.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re with you again, and you\u2019re looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d responded Evans, \u201cmighty fine, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan followed with, \u201cwe\u2019ve got the PYROS ARMED now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. And you can expect some different OMNI calls as we go LOS and AOS again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI always expect that, Bob,\u201d I kidded, as the communications engineer for most of the flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cSEP light is ON on time ,\u201d Cernan noted. At nine minutes and 38 seconds before S-IVB ignition, Houston activated TIME BASE 6. In the cabin, both the telemetry UPLINK ACTIVITY LIGHT and the booster SEPARATION LIGHT came on, ten seconds later the UPLINK ACTY LT went out, and 38 seconds later the SEP LT also went out.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d acknowledged Overmyer. \u201cAnd it shows TIME BASE 6 [started] on time, Geno. \u2026We\u2019d like OMNI DELTA, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019ve got it,\u201d I responded. \u201c[When you asked,] I\u2019ll just switch, Bob. I won\u2019t give you a call.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSEP light was OUT on time,\u201d reported Cernan.<\/p>\n

Ron then set the Event Timer counting up ignition. If guidance had been in CMC, we would have entered VERB 16 NOUN 20 ENTER with a maneuver to the R2 ALIGN pitch attitude of 312.0 after TIME BASE 6 was activated (see below).<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control at 3 hours 4 minutes. We are now some 8 minutes away from ignition. Everything\u2019s looking good for the TransLunar Injection maneuver, the combined S-IVB Saturn third stage and the spacecraft with an orbital weight of three hundred eight thousand, two hundred ninety eight pounds at the start of this maneuver.<\/span><\/p>\n

After three minutes of quiet, Cernan ask me if we still had communications. I said that all I could tell from signal strength indicated that we did. He then said, \u201cComm check, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston; go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just checking with you; you\u2019re so quiet down there, we almost forgot you were there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Don\u2019t want to forget me. We\u2019re just watching everything; we can\u2019t find anything wrong, so we\u2019re just trying to keep quiet here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. We\u2019re watching the S-IVB tanks pressurize.\u201d<\/p>\n

[At this point, we had the same emergency separation criteria for pressure differentials between liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks that we had after orbit insertion on the S-IVB, namely, that pressure differentials (psid) between S-IVB oxygen and hydrogen were within certain broad limits: oxygen 36 psid > hydrogen, hydrogen 26 psid > oxygen, or oxygen > 50 psia with normal pressures being 40 psia for oxygen and 31 psia for hydrogen.]<\/p>\n

\u201c[Anyway], you ought to look for the good things rather than the bad.\u201d In spite of this statement, Cernan, I am sure, remembered that it is the bad things that cause trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s good when we don\u2019t find anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t agree more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan then switched ORDEAL (Orbital Rate Drive Electronics for the Apollo Command Module and Lunar Module) to drive his FDAI 1 in ORBITAL RATE (local vertical) and Evans\u2019 FDAI 2 in the INERTIAL reference frame. The ORDEAL MODE was switched to HOLD\/FAST, and the FUNCTION SELECTOR switch was put at 300\/Lunar, the latter in anticipation of leaving Earth orbit. This gave him a secondary means of monitoring the TLI burn pitch orientation.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in order to be absolutely certain no spurious telemetry commands altered the planned burn, accidental or otherwise, I put both the Command Module and the S-IVB IU UPLINK TELEMETRY switches to BLOCK. Evans also armed his RIGHT HAND CONTROLER as a backup to Cernan\u2019s, in case either had to supply attitude control of the S-IVB burn.<\/p>\n

At four minutes before ignition, Cernan slewed FDAI 1 to a pitch of 17\u00ba. If the burn needed to be under CMC control, pitch would have been set at 0\u00ba and the DISKEY would already be displaying NOUN 20 with R2 ALIGN set at 312.0, as per the TLI PAD.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, the [S-IVB engine] chill-down is in progress, and the tank pressures are looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. Looking good here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You are GO at three minutes prior to ignition. You\u2019re looking good, and\u2026we\u2019re going to have ARIA coverage all the way through the burn until [acquiring] Ascension.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, understand, Bob. \u202657:10, ORDEAL [to] OPERATE. \u2026We\u2019re in average g.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We confirm it,\u201d Overmyer replied. This meant that the sensor that would measure acceleration was in operation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSEP light ON at 3:06 [before ignition].\u201d Cernan then verified that the Flight Director Attitude Indicator (FDAI #1), in front of him, generally referred to as the \u201c8-ball,\u201d now showed 12 degrees pitch, the local vertical pitch angle for the S-IVB burn. If the burn were to be under CMC control, he would have maneuvered to the R2 IGNITION pitch attitude of 306.0 given to us in the TLI PAD.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. \u2026Seventeen, you\u2019re looking great on the final status check here, and you\u2019re GO for TLI. \u201cThis meant that Fight Director Griffin had gone around the Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR) and had received a verbal \u201cGO\u201d from each of the console stations of his Gold Flight controllers.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re coming up now on 2 minutes until ignition. This burn, again, will be a 5 minute, 51 second maneuver. The S-IVB engine [will be] delivering about 225,000 pounds of thrust, and it will be increasing the spacecraft velocity in the current state of about 25,000 feet per second up to about 35,585 feet per second.<\/span><\/p>\n

At one minute and 45 seconds to go, the computer DSKY briefly went blank and then displayed Time From Ignition, Current Velocity Gained, and Insertion Velocity.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeno, you need SCS TVC SERVO POWER number one to AC MAIN A.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, MAIN A.\u201d<\/span> This meant that power for a manual takeover for TLI guidance, if necessary, would come from the primary AC electrical circuit connected to the Main A electrical bus being fed by America\u2019s<\/em> fuel cells.<\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that SCS TVC SERVO POWER number two is OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have put the TAPE RECORDER to HIGH BIT RATE, RECORD, FORWARD, and COMMAND RESET.\u201d<\/span> For unknown reasons, the tape recorder did not record cabin voice during the TLI burn.<\/p>\n

\u201cENTRY MONITOR SYSTEM MODE should be NORMAL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s NORMAL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At 1:24 before ignition, the S-II SEPARATION LIGHT came on, followed immediately by the beginning of S-IVB ullage. Ullage consisted of the S-IVB\u2019s z-axis attitude control thrusters firing so as to settle the liquid hydrogen and oxygen at the feed ports in the bottom of their tanks.<\/p>\n

[If for some reason prior to 18 seconds before ignition, Mission Control decided to forego ignition, we would put the XLUNAR (Translunar) INJECT switch to SAFE which would recycle the booster to TIME BASE 5. If Mission Control called for a TLI inhibit between 18 seconds before and 12 seconds after ignition, we would put the LV (LAUNCH VEHICLE) STAGE switch to S-II\/S-IVB, also forcing a recycle to TIME BASE 5. This would give a chance to study whatever problem had arisen, and possible recycle for another try. After 12 seconds, however, putting this LV STAGE switch to S-II\/S-IVB would permanently inhibit TLI, and we would not be going to the Moon.]<\/p>\n

To the Moon!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have S-IVB ullage beginning,\u201d<\/span> reported Cernan.<\/p>\n

At 18 seconds, Cernan reported, \u201cThe SEP lights are OUT.\u201d Unsensed by us, at 8 seconds before ignition, ullage was followed by liquid hydrogen fuel being pumped into the engine ahead of the liquid oxygen (LOX). S-IVB ullage stopped at 5 seconds before ignition. Also, at 5 seconds, if GUIDANCE had been by the CMC, the local vertical ORDEAL indication on FDAI 1 in front of Cernan would show zero degrees of pitch.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026The [engine] light\u2019s on, and we have ignition,\u201d Cernan announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cLight\u2019s off, Gene,\u201d<\/span> Evans noted at 2 seconds after ignition. This indicated full thrust from the S-IVB. At 10 seconds, he again entered VERB 6 NOUN 95 into the DISKEY to get a display of TFC (TIME FROM CUTOFF), VG (VELOCITY GAINED), and VI (VELOCITY INERTIAL).<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You\u2019re looking good, and the [S-IVB] thrust is GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob, you\u2019re now advised that we\u2019re GO on board at 20 seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan and Evans both were watching the attitude of the combined spacecraft and S-IVB to be sure that pitch and yaw excursions did not exceed \u00b145\u00ba, pitch and yaw rates did not exceed \u00b110\u00ba per second, and roll rates did not exceed \u00b120\u00ba per second. In fact, the stack seemed steady as a rock to me. I also monitored the S-IVB tank pressures as before.<\/p>\n

And telemetry data from the Saturn instrument unit shows the velocity increasing up now to 26 000 feet per second, beginning to climb ever more rapidly. This burn was initiated at an altitude of about 97 nautical miles above Earth, and when finished, the spacecraft will be at about 150 miles above Earth, and on its way to the Moon, some 213,000 miles nautical miles away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne minute, Houston, and we\u2019re GO.\u201d Evans and Cernan were comparing what the computer display indicated about the burn with the profile that they had on the TLI cue card. I continued to scan my spacecraft environmental control and power displays more out of habit than concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene. We can barely hear you through ARIA, but you\u2019re GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Jack, check your] antenna,\u201d requested Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cSignal strength is good here, Gene,\u201d<\/span> I confirmed. \u201cMust be a problem with ARIA transmission back on land.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have reasonable signal strength, but you are unreadable. \u2026Everything\u2019s GO at 1:30. \u2026Confirm a PU (Propellant Utilization ratio) shift and GO at 1:45.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, if you want to monitor inertial velocity along with altitude rate, and altitude, enter Verb 16, Noun 62, ENTER, but go back to NOUN 95 with a KEY RELEASE (to freeze the display) at shutdown,\u201d<\/span> I told Evans, as I still followed the sequence of events in the Checklist. Going back to NOUN 95 in P15 would allow him to monitor time since ignition, inertial velocity, and velocity gained.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We can confirm PU shift, and you are GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was CAPCOM Robert Overmyer confirming to the crew that our data showed the Saturn shifting its Propellant Utilization for a most efficient utilization of the propellant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston, 2:30 \u2013 [transmitting] in the blind \u2013 we\u2019re still GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen. You\u2019re GO; looking great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. Got that [transmission]. Understand we\u2019re GO from the ground; and it\u2019s a good ride, although it\u2019s rumbling around a little bit. \u2026Three minutes, and we are GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBob. We\u2019re going to TLI right through sunrise!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gene Cernan reporting the TLI burn has taken them out of darkness and into sunrise now and we\u2019 re showing a velocity of 30,463 feet per second\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, 3:30 is GO\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob, Seventeen is GO at 4:30. You\u2019re still unreadable.\u201d It might be that the ionized effluents from the S-IVB interfered with radio reception. Our transmissions, however, were getting through.<\/p>\n

Apollo 17 [is] now about 107 nautical miles above Earth and continuing to climb ever more rapidly. 4 minutes and 30 seconds now, and everything continuing to look good. Apollo 17 at a velocity of 32,000 feet per second.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. How do you read me? You are GO, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we got you that time. Understand we\u2019re GO on the ground, and we\u2019re still GO here, and we\u2019re TLI-ing right through sunrise!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand\u2026Seventeen, Houston. Your burn time is nominal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Understand, burn time [will be] nominal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cComing up on shutdown.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShutdown! At 5:52.\u201d<\/span> The LV ENGINE LIGHT came on as expected, as the slight acceleration we had felt for almost six minutes, ceased. TIME BASE 7 began at this point, as well.<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

For 5 minutes and 52 seconds, we accelerated ahead of the S-IVB\u2019s vibrating but soundless rocket engine. I was fascinated both by the marvel of the human and technological event of which we were a part and by the unbelievable beauty of the ribboned sunrise through which we sped.<\/p>\n

A perfect burn, and Apollo 17 had stretched the gravitational chains of Earth so eventually they could be exchanged in favor of those of the Moon. Once again, and for the last time in the foreseeable future, humans had left their evolutionary cradle for another potential home in space. This initiated the \u201cend of the beginning\u201d[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> of the movement of civilization into deep space. As a consequence of Apollo and its successful exploration of the Moon, humankind stands on the brink of an indefinite era of exploration, settlement and progress in space beside which even the history of human settlement of the Earth\u2019s continents may ultimately pale. The Apollo explorations became humankind\u2019s first halting but clearly personal look at its universe.<\/p>\n

Carried forward in many ways, this adventurous character of humans, particularly Americans, uniquely identifies us among the known species of nature. We have the audacity to try to understand our place in the universe and in its future. We have the further audacity to try to understand, preserve and benefit from the Earth, now with the corrected vision from space. Ultimately, we expect, as a species, to use this understanding to alter the universe and to better our lives within it.[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cKEY RELEASE, Ron.\u201d<\/span> This would freeze the computer display for recording the burn data.<\/p>\n

[If the S-IVB had not shut down within one second of the expected burn time, Cernan would have turned his THC (THRUST HAND CONTROLLER) counterclockwise (CCW) and then back to NEUTRAL. That would initiate a MODE IV abort sequence, shutting off the S-IVB and separating us from the booster.]<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was something, wasn\u2019t it!\u201d<\/span> The burn into a sunrise and the fact that we actually were headed toward the Moon really had my attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cCut-off at [5:]52,\u201d called Ron to Houston. \u201cDid you read the DSKY?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have the DSKY [due to telemetry problems]. You have to read it to us, Ron.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026 I got a zero zero and a zero zero [for velocity differences] and NOUN 95 VI<\/sub> is 3\u20265\u20265\u20267\u20263. [V-delta difference] is a plus 9. And, Bob, the EMS (Energy Monitor System V-delta) is minus one\u2026nine\u2026point four. This was close agreement between the two systems, with the NOUN 95 number being the more reliable.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, we copy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026And it was an auto cut-off \u2013 auto cut-off on time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand \u2013 a guided cut-off on time. Looking great,\u201d Overmyer replied.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026and I am watching tank pressures. \u2026The tanks are venting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The S-IVB gave us a near perfect burn, both in amount and direction and the telemetry and tracking data received on Earth soon confirmed this fact. Also as planned, the automatic venting of the S-IVB propellant tanks would prevent any pressure build-up and a possible explosion while we were still on the rocket or in its vicinity.<\/p>\n

After a brief communications dropout as we left the inconsistent reach of the ARIA aircraft over the Atlantic, Houston came back up through Ascension. After that, we had continuous contact through the global antenna network of Parks and Honeysuckle in Australia, Goldstone in California, and Madrid in Spain.<\/p>\n

Well, we\u2019re still getting communications through the Apollo Range Instrumented Aircraft. We\u2019ll be picking up through Ascension shortly, at which time we\u2019d expect the communications to improve, the noise to drop off. From Gene Cernan\u2019s report, also from the reports from Ron Evans, it appeared that that TransLunar Injection was extremely close to nominal. The crew read a cut off time of 5 minutes 52 seconds. The pre-maneuver prediction was 5 minutes 51 seconds. And the cutoff velocity appeared to be very, very close to the planned normal. Booster engineer, Frank Van Rensselaer reports the booster cutoff appeared to be exactly normal. And [the] booster engineer [is] now predicting that the maneuver to separation attitude will begin at about 3 hours 33 minutes 27 seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGene, are you ready for the post-TLI Checklist items?\u201d I asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGO.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSCS TVC SERVO PWR #1 to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPCM BIT RATE to LOW.\u201d I have that one over here.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS MODE to STANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSTANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSECS PYRO ARM, two, to SAFE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSAFE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFDAI #1 to INERTIAL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cINERTIAL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRHC #2 should be locked.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLOCKED,\u201d Ron broke in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRon, you need to PROCEED and go to P00. When the CMC ACTIVITY light goes out, ENTER VERB 66, \u2026and Ron, you ready to get us a Challenger<\/em>?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan and Evans then changed positions in the cabin so that Evans could prepare for separating from the S-IVB, turning America <\/em>around, and docking with the Challenger<\/em> still tucked away in the front end of the rocket. (I had some concern that Cernan might usurp this duty from Evans and was pleased that he did not. Evans had trained for 15 months for this highlight of his duties on the trip to the Moon.) I reconfigured the high gain antenna so that it could begin to serve as our primary mode of operational communications with the various Earth-based antennas of the Deep Space Network and, through them, to Mission Control. This entailed turning the HIGH GAIN ANTENNA POWER switch to OFF and then closing the circuit breakers for the HIGH GAIN ANTENNA FLIGHT BUS and the HIGH GAIN ANTENNA GROUP 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston, how do you read?\u201d I called.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019d like OMNI Delta.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. I picked it [your transmission] up a little bit. How do you read now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRead you loud and clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you got all that [communication through the burn]. It was a beautiful burn \u2013 right through a sunrise! \u2026Did you get the numbers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we copied your VI and your EMS numbers, and we\u2019ve got a number for you. [S-IVB] Maneuver start time will be at 03 plus 33 plus 27.\u201d The S-IVB would be directed by Mission Control to move to an optimum lighting attitude for Evans\u2019 docking and extraction of Challenger.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we got you. Maneuver at 03:33:27.\u201d This would be in about ten minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirmative, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys didn\u2019t tell us we couldn\u2019t see anything going through the sunrise,\u201d I chided Overmyer and received his laughter in return.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re making plans here for a spacecraft SEP [from the S-IVB] time of 03 plus 43.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c03 plus 43. Roger,\u201d I confirmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. We\u2019re copying cabin pressure of 5.9 [psi] at this time.\u201d This was a subtle notice that Evans and I had screwed up.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d responded Evans. \u201cWe just got it, Bob. Thank you [for the heads up]\u201d I earlier had delved back into the Checklist, this time the NORMAL SPACECRAFT\/BOOSTER SEPARATIONS section, and had told Evans to open the DIRECT O2 VALVE. He and I both had become distracted by TLI activity and let cabin pressure go beyond the 5.7 psi called for.<\/p>\n

This is Apollo Control at 3 hours 30 minutes. The flight dynamics officer has just reported that initial tracking, following the TransLunar Injection burn, shows the spacecraft to be on a very nominal trajectory, and a relatively small midcourse correction indicated at this time. The pre-burn prediction on that first midcourse correction was around 5 feet per second and we expect that that will be up-dated as we get additional tracking following the burn. In about 3 minutes the spacecraft should \u2013 the launch vehicle should begin maneuvering to the proper attitude for [Command and Service Module] separation and we\u2019re predicting separation to occur at about 3 hours 43 minutes \u2013 or about 13 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrame 65 for the LMP\u2019s [film] mag November November,\u201d I reported, preparing to photograph Evans\u2019 approach and docking with the Challenger<\/em>. We depended on the Crew Systems personnel in Mission Control to keep track of the film magazine inventory.<\/p>\n

First, however, I took several quick photographs of the rapidly changing apparent curvature of Earth\u2019s horizon (Fig. 5.8<\/strong>). At 25,000 miles an hour, these views change very rapidly and foreshadowed the three days of steadily smaller Earth scenes that lay before us.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.8. <\/strong>View of portions of the Earth, including the southwest coast of Africa (upper<\/em>), taken soon after the TransLunar Injection (TLI) burn that put Apollo 17 on a path to the Moon. The photographs show the rapidly changing aspect of the horizon arc as the spacecraft and booster combination left the Earth at an initial velocity of about 25,000 miles per hour. Note one of the Service Module-LM Adapter (SLA) panels below the limb at center of the lower photo and some debris from the jettison (NASA photos AS17-148-22671, -22679, and -22681, respectively).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron, lets get you ready for docking with Challenger,<\/em>\u201d<\/span> I said, going back to Checklist for NORMAL SPACECRAFT activities and for BOOSTER SEPARATION. During this several minutes, Evans carried on a discussion about the bright fragments around the S-IVB while we also worked through the Checklist (e.g., Fig. 5.9 <\/strong>below).<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I called as the S-IVB began to move us at the appointed time. \u201cWe are maneuvering, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point, we became aware of \u201ca few very bright particles or fragments that went drifting by as we maneuver,\u201d as Ron put it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I chimed in with \u201cThere\u2019s a whole bunch of big ones in my window down there \u2013 [not colored,] just bright. It looks like the Fourth of July out of Ron\u2019s [hatch] window!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.9.<\/strong> The forward end of the S-IVB immediately after the TransLunar Injection Burn. The Lunar Module Challenger <\/em>is visible in the Adapter section. A cloud of ice fragments surrounds the booster, dislodged at shutdown from the cold, liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks (NASA photo AS17-148-22687)<\/span><\/p>\n

Ron began to add details \u2013 \u201cThey\u2019re very jagged, angular fragments that are tumbling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. They look like fluid of some sort?\u201d queried Overmyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot to me,\u201d answered Evans. \u201cThe look like pieces of something. \u2026They\u2019re very bright.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJack, we\u2019d like OMNI Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

After complying with this request, I continued with the Checklist. \u201cWe have the cabin pressure back under control, thanks to Bob, so I need the two DOCK PROBE circuit breakers verified CLOSED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCOAS POWER, ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cON.\u201d<\/span> The COAS was mounted in the window immediately in front of Evans\u2019 face. He would use the COAS alignment grid to line up with a three-dimensional target on the Challenger<\/em> as he moved in for docking.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, ALIGN the GDC (GYRO DISPLAY COUPLER).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cALIGNED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLOAD the RCS DAP (Digital Auto Pilot) with the following: R1 equal to\u2026, you ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cR1 equal to 1\u20261\u20261\u2026zero\u2026three\u2026and R2 equal to zero and four ones. Now a VERB 46 ENTER.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c46 ENTER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Referring to the TLI PAD Overmyer had given us before the TLI burn, I said, \u201cLOAD NOUN 17 with the SEPARATION attitude. That is roll zero zero zero, pitch three\u2026four\u2026five\u2026, and yaw zero\u2026four\u2026zero.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, now give me the NOUN 22 EXTRACTION attitude.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I replied with \u201cEXTRACTION attitude is roll three\u2026zero zero, pitch one\u2026six\u2026five\u2026 and yaw three\u2026 two\u2026 zero. Good. \u2026Now, ENTER VERB 63 to monitor the S-IVB maneuver to your SEPARATION attitude.\u201d<\/span> Evans would now be seeing error needles on his FDAI 2 and, if they were not nulled, he could ENTER VERB 60 to check if the S-IVB attitude control dead-band was the expected \u00b11.8\u00ba.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ready for the CSM SEPARATION PREP Checklist items, Ron?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo,\u201d he replied, although he probably had the entire list in his memory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDOCKING PROBE EXTEND\/RELEASE switch to RETRACT.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRETRACT.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that RCS TRANSFER is SM (Service Module).\u201d<\/span> This made sure that we would not deplete the Command Module RCS, unnecessarily.<\/p>\n

\u201cSM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, verify that the eight SM RCS PROPELLANT talkbacks are all gray.\u201d<\/span> I had done this before TLI, but it was always good to have another set of eyes make sure that there were no problems with the RCS fuel and oxidizer supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll gray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sixteen AUTO RCS SELECT switches should be at MAIN A\/MAIN B.\u201d<\/span> This selection meant that redundant power source would be available to any RCS thruster selected during the separation, docking and extraction maneuvers.<\/p>\n

\u201cMAIN A and B,\u201d<\/span> Evans replied after a few seconds. He had now completed setting up the RCS controls for his separation and docking maneuvers.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow lets do the old EMS (Entry Monitor System) NULL BIAS CHECK, and I have to go to the G&N Checklist\u2026page G\/2-5. Stand by. \u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere we go; set DELTA VC to minus 100.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMinus 100.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd EMS FUNCTION goes to DELTA V.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDELTA V.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour FDAI SCALE SHOULD BE 5\/1.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c5\/1\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree MANUAL ATTITUDE switches to RATE COMMAND.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRATE COMMAND, three of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLIMIT CYCLE switch should be verified OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour ATTITUDE DEAD-BAND should be MIN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMINIMUM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the ATTITUDE RATE should be LOW.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLOW.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that TRANSLATION CONTROL POWER is ON, that is, the switch should be up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is up and ON.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that the ROTATIONAL CONTROL POWER switches, two of them, are AC\/DC.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAC\/DC.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd also verify that the two ROTATIONAL CONTROL DIRECT switches are MAIN A and B.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMAIN A and B.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRotate the ATTITUDE SET thumbwheel to show roll zero\u2026pitch 180, and yaw zero.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, We\u2019ve got zero one eight [pitch] and zero [roll and yaw] on the old thumbwheels,\u201d Evans replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, the folks at home won\u2019t get to watch your work on TV<\/span> (This was because of our delayed launch.), so we will move on in the Checklist. \u2026CMC MODE should be verified in FREE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s a bummer. \u2026Okay, CMC MODE is FREE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSPACECRAFT CONTROL switch goes to CMC (Command Module Computer).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify the three BMAG MODE switches are in RATE 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree in RATE 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGene, we need the two RCS LOGIC circuit breakers OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, RCS LOGIC [breakers are OPEN],\u201d Cernan replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d Evans continued, \u201cfor the most part, these fragments\u2026are tumbling at a very slow rate. I tried a couple of pictures of them [at] different settings. You may get an idea of what, at least, the patterns look like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. I got you. We\u2019re all ears on these fragments. Do you think you can figure out what they might be?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know. There are a number of possibilities. \u2026I got the impression maybe they were curved a little bit, as if they might be off the side of the S-IVB. And that\u2019s a wild guess\u2026ice chunks, possibly. Or maybe there\u2019s paint coming off of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d acknowledged Overmyer. \u201cI noticed on one trip up the [Launch Umbilical Tower] elevator last week near one of the flags \u2013 I thought it was on the S-II, but it might have been on the S-IVB \u2013 it looked like it was peeling. Maybe that\u2019s what you\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overmyer broke out of the ongoing discussion about possible ice fragments with, \u201cThe S-IVB maneuver is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTVC (Trust Vector Control) SERVO POWER number one to AC one\/MAIN A.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAC one\/MAIN A.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSet the EVENT TIMER to 59;30.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019ll set the old clock.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, I\u2019ll put the FUEL CELL REACTANTS VALVE to LATCH.\u201d<\/span> This setting would prevent this valve from closing if there happened to be any unexpected shocks from pyro firings or hard hits during CSM separation from the S-IVB or its docking with and extraction of the Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Evans briefly returned to the subject of the fragments we could see outside. \u201c\u2026with the [S-IVB] maneuver complete, the fragment field is essentially static, except for very slight tumbling within the fragment [field]. \u2026Every once in a while, a fragment of considerably higher velocity than the others goes across my window. But that is very rare. \u2026Hey, that\u2019s the field of view I saw out my window. Jack, do you see it now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Bob,\u201d Evans continued, \u201cAt least there\u2019s not apparent relative motion between fragments.\u201d This was an important observation as an explosion of some kind would have created a much more variable set of velocities. At this point, it would appear that there had been a very low energy release of the fragments. Then Evans said, \u201cI\u2019ll take two pictures about a minute apart, if I can. And it\u2019ll be Frame 70.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Bob. This is Geno. My impression is that they [the fragments] are flat, flake-like particles. Some may be six inches across. And, although there\u2019s no relative motion\u2026 Most of them seem to be twinkling. And, I think, for the most part they\u2019re\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Evans then loaded the attitude for Challenger<\/em> extraction (roll 300, pitch 165, yaw 320) in to the computer through a VERB 49 (Crew Defined Maneuver). So that Mission Control could follow us directly, we went live on voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cTRANSLATION HAND CONTROLLER, to ARMED.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, TRANS CONTROL is ARMED.<\/p>\n

\u201cROTATIONAL HAND CONTROLLER, two, to ARMED.<\/p>\n

\u201cCONTROLLER number 2 is ARMED.\u201d Evans had already armed RHC #1 which was the one he would use for the maneuver sequence.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breaker SECS LOGIC, two, CLOSED.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. SECS LOGIC is CLOSED,\u201d and, anticipating my next call outs, Evans said, \u201cSECS ARM [circuit breakers] are CLOSED [and] LOGIC POWER is ON.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d This preparation included again setting up and verifying the logic train of the Sequential Events Control System (SECS) in case it was necessary to instantly undock with the S-IVB\/Challenger<\/em> combined vehicle. Continued practice for this transposition and docking maneuver, and any contingencies that might arise, had been a major emphasis in Evans\u2019 training regimen.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. You have a GO for T and D.\u201d (Transposition and Docking).\u201d To which, Cernan replied, \u201cOkay. A GO for T and D.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans continued, \u201cwe\u2019ll ARM the PYROS. And we\u2019ll hit the GDC \u2013 ALIGN.\u201d The GDC, or Gyro Display Coupler, constituted our backup control system for the spacecraft and now was aligned with the Primary Navigation and Guidance System (PNGS or \u201cpings\u201d).<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you put RCS COMMAND to ON?\u201d<\/span> I asked. Evans, in his excitement, had taken off on his own while I set up the Tape Recorder, but I wanted to be sure we covered all the Checklist items.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I did that.\u201d<\/span> Then he continued on his own, talking more to himself than to us. \u201cAnd the maneuver\u2019s complete\u2026and 0, 180, and 0 [set]\u2026on the GDC? No, [on the Attitude Indicator].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, are you okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026it\u2019s just kind of diddling\u2026Okay. [EMS FUNCTION is DELTA-V\u2026and [EMS Mode] NORMAL\u2026S-IVB\u2019s okay\u2026Okay, switches are all set.\u201d It was clear that excitement permeated Evans really as he approached his first major operation on the mission and knew what needed to be done by heart. I got a kick out of his enthusiasm, but still watched the Checklist, closely. That was our lunar lander out there he was about to dock with.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, you need VERB 62 ENTER,\u201d<\/span> I reminded him.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, [we have] 59:30 [set],\u201d I noted, relative to the Digital Event Timer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans replied, \u201clets start the DET.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTickity-tick-tickity, Houston,\u201d Evans transmitted. \u201cWe\u2019re running at 59:30.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d replied the waiting Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron, thrust plus X and hold,\u201d<\/span> I told Evans. \u201cStop thrusting after three seconds, Ron.\u201d<\/span> This had us moving away from the S-IVB at about half a foot per second.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026okay, that\u2019s LAUNCH VEHICLE SEP, push button [and hold then release].<\/p>\n

The cabin indication of LAUNCH VEHICLE tank pressures immediately went to zero, as pyro cutters severed the umbilical between the S-IVB and America<\/em>, prompting Cernan to call, \u201cSeparation, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, check the covers,\u201d Evans said, referring to the four SLA (Service Module\/Lunar Module Adapter, pronounced \u201cslaw\u201d) panels that had protected Challenger<\/em> up to now. Our SEPARATION command also had triggered the ejection of these panels. \u201cAnd check the other ones off.\u201d (See third photograph in Fig. 5.8)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all [off],\u201d I told him, looking back from window 5 at the SLA panels moving rapidly away from the S-IVB as it continued to hold a stable attitude, waiting for us to turn around and come back for the Challenger.<\/em><\/p>\n

I quickly read through the items we needed to check as unchanged after separation and Cernan took care of them while Evans watched the SLA panels tumble through space.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck the SERVICE MODULE RCS PROPELLANT talkbacks, eight of them, as being gray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are gray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSame for the eight SERVICE MODULE RCS Helium talkbacks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSERVICE MODULE RCS PROPELENT FUEL PRESSURE switches, four of them, should go to CLOSED, and the FUEL CONTROL REACTANTS valve should go to NORMAL.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCLOSED\u2026and NORMAL.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I have verified that the OXYGEN TANK #3 ISOLATION VALVE talkback is gray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It looked like no adverse events in the attitude control and fuel cell systems accompanied separation from the S-IVB.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans continued, \u201cI\u2019m going to start the\u2026 My gosh! Look at the junk!<\/span> \u2026Okay, there\u2019s 15 seconds. Pitch her up. Okay, we\u2019ll PROCEED on the [computer display].\u201d<\/p>\n

At half a degree per second, it would take about a minute and a half to pitch the full 180 degrees so that we were pointed directly back at the front end of the S-IVB. As we did so, Cernan reported, \u201cHouston, we\u2019re right in the middle of a snowstorm! (Figs. 5.9 <\/strong>and 5.10 <\/strong>upper)\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.10.<\/strong> (Upper<\/em>): View of more of the ice fragments surrounding the S-IVB after separation of the Command and Service Module from it and the ejection of the protective Service Module LM Adapter (SLA) panels. The Lunar Module Challenger<\/em> is housed in the visible end of the S-IVB. (Lower<\/em>): The photo shows the changing aspect of the Challenger<\/em> as it was approached during the Transposition and Docking maneuver by Ron Evans. The small, circular, black and white 3D target Evans used to guide the docking is visible just to the upper left of the central tunnel opening (NASA photos AS17-148-22691, -22695, respectively).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, and we\u2019d like OMNI Delta.\u201d I complied immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, look at that burst!\u201d Evans exclaimed. \u201cIt is going to be bright as all get out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there goes one of the SLA panels,\u201d Cernan added.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d agreed Evans. \u201cWe\u2019re not there yet,\u201d referring to the pitch maneuver. \u201cLong ways to go yet. It\u2019s on the other side of the Earth, if the simulator\u2019s any good. \u2026Oh, man!\u201d I think Evans referred here to the fact that he would be facing the Earth when the 180 degree pitch up was completed. Evans clearly was in his zone, having practiced this part of the mission hundreds of times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere goes another SLA panel, Houston, going the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, there\u2019s the booster!\u201d I shouted, feigning surprise (Fig. 5.10<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger,\u201d returned Overmyer. \u201cBet you never saw the SLA panels on the simulator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but we\u2019ve got the booster and is she pretty,\u201d I replied. \u201cChallenger\u2019s<\/em> just sitting in her nest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019d like OMNI Bravo, now Jack.\u201d The Flight Controllers watching the communications quality were searching for the right antenna while the spacecraft changed orientation relative to the Earth.<\/p>\n

As Evans completed his maneuver and the pitch change stopped with our X-axis pointed at the S-IVB, he said, \u201cOkay, we\u2019ll plus-X it. Well see the [target on the Challenger<\/em>]. \u2026Oh, you can\u2019t see. \u2026Oh, I can\u2019t see [through] my COAS [yet because of the particles].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Houston,\u201d Cernan observed, \u201csome of the particles going by the window\u2026were fairly obvious to me\u2026as paint.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. We\u2019ll buy that,\u201d Overmyer said, prematurely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. There it is [zero degrees in pitch],\u201d Evans said to himself. With the small end of our spacecraft cone now pointed directly at the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> overhead hatch and docking port, and America\u2019s<\/em> engine bell pointed directly away, Evans used four quads of small rocket thrusters on America\u2019s<\/em> Service Module to move the spacecraft forward so that the probe and drogue of docking system were positioned to capture the Challenger<\/em>. Then he asked me, \u201cdid you change the Data Acquisition Camera (DAC) settings.\u201d The 8-16 frame per second Mauer film camera normally was mounted in a bracket in window #4, above my head. It pointed along the x-axis, and it understandably meant a lot to Evans to film his docking with Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Evans, now in the left hand couch and with access to the main hand controllers and the switches for selecting the most sensitive attitude control mode, maintained a slow approach to the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> docking port and hatch, using alignment of a three dimensional target on the Challenger <\/em>as his guide. This alignment method resembled flying close (three feet wing separation) formation in a T-38 by keeping the tip of the lead aircraft\u2019s wing on the NASA logo painted on the fuselage ahead of Lead\u2019s wing root. The attitude control system of the S-IVB held the Challenger<\/em> in a stable inertial position as it rested in its \u201cnest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron, are you ready for your TRANSPOSITION Checklist?\u201d I asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMANUAL ATTITUDE switch for pitch to ACCELLERATE COMMAND.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPitch UP at point five degrees per second.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPoint five \u2013 we\u2019re pitching UP.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo now, PROCEED [on the DISKEY], and you should have a flashing 50 18.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProceeded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPROCEED again to a flashing 06 18. \u2026Now, MANUAL ATTITUDE for pitch goes to RATE COMMAND.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRATE COMMAND.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you stop at the docking attitude, the DISKEY will show a flashing 50 18 and you should ENTER on that display.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026ENTER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow the big moment! Thrust plus X for four seconds. That should give us a velocity of about point 7 feet per second.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThrusting four seconds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor some reason, you need to reach down and OPEN the two DIRECT ULLAGE circuit breakers.\u201d<\/span> This item may have appeared as a result of an event in test when an electrical interference was noted when those breakers were closed during a Service Module RCS maneuver.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do that. \u2026They are OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you need to load the RCS DAP (Digital Auto Pilot) with three ones\u2026zero\u2026two \u2026and zero and four ones.\u201d<\/span> This process involved entering a VERB 48 in the DISKEY, giving a flashing 04 46 with two registers for entering the desired DAP load in octal format. Evans, of course, knew how to do this by heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cDAP is loaded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, \u2026[I] got ATTITUDE 1\/RATE 2,\u201d Evans stated as he set up his preferred control sensitivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston,\u201d I queried, looking at the Checklist, \u201cyou want the high gain?<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re standing by for it, and the [slew] angles as published on [Checklist page] L\/3-3 should be good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talking to myself, I said, \u201cHIGH GAIN ANTENNA TRACKING to MANUAL \u2013 HIGH GAIN ANTENNA POWER to POWER \u2013 slew to verify operation \u2013 set angles at PITCH 42 degrees and YAW at plus 293 degrees \u2013 S-BAND ANTENNA OMNI to HIGH GAIN \u2013 HIGH GAIN ANTENNA TRACKING now to REACQUISITION \u2013 we are not going to do TV so that stays in STANDBY \u2013 DAC has been started.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then I reported to Overmyer: \u201cOkay, it\u2019s [the antenna] flying pretty good. \u2026We\u2019re in REACQ here. \u2026Houston how do you read? We don\u2019t have a very good lock-on here in REACQ.\u201d I was referring to the level of signal strength I was reading on my indicator.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. We\u2019re reading you pretty good in voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. It looks like it\u2019s improving. \u2026Signal strength dropped off, and now it\u2019s picking up again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re getting good signal now, Jack. \u2026Jack, the high gain is looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news. It seemed to slew very smoothly, so it looks all right.\u201d Exchanges like the preceding took place every time we maneuvered America<\/em>. Good voice and telemetry communications always remained high on the priority list for everyone. At this point, the ground needed to monitor all our systems during Ron\u2019s critical docking activities in case a spacecraft problem started to manifest itself while our attention was on capturing the Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far away from the booster are we, Ron,\u201d<\/span> asked Gene.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m guessing. I don\u2019t know\u2026about a hundred [meters, maybe].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does the Checklist want for the BMAG MODE?\u201d<\/span> Ron asked. BMAG referred to the three Body Mounted Attitude Gyros that the backup SCS control system used as an attitude reference.<\/p>\n

\u201cATTITUDE 1\/RATE 2 [for all three BMAG switches].\u201d Evans had already selected this BMAG MODE earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you too much, Bob,\u201d Cernan volunteered, \u201cfrom the center seat, other than Captain America is very intent on getting Challenger<\/em> at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. I can believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming in a little slow, but we\u2019ve got plenty of time,\u201d Evans said to no one in particular. This slow approach gave me a chance to observe more closely the few remaining particles around the Challenger.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston, while we\u2019re moving in here, I can see a few chunks of that platy material, possibly paint down in the SLA [and] sort of bouncing around between the S-IVB and the LM.<\/span> \u2026But, so far, LM looks very clean. Can\u2019t see anything abnormal from the view, yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you believe the stability of the S-IVB?\u201d<\/span> Cernan asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it, though? That thing is really stable out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have a clear view?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Can you see it at all, Gene? …Got one little chunk coming out\u2026it just came out of the SLA, and it\u2019s spinning along the long axis, and it looks very stable. \u2026Every once in a while, a small particle flies off of it though.\u201d This observation suggested that the fragment, indeed, was ice frost and, as it warmed up, small pieces were going off as it spun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow big a chuck are you talking about, Jack?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Referenced to the thrusters, about the same diameter as the thruster on the LM\u2026That\u2019s how long it was, and about a fifth that thick or that wide. \u2026And I don\u2019t think it\u2019s more than a quarter of an inch or maybe even less, thick.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cernan, looking out the large, round hatch window, added, \u201cThat same particle, Bob, came by and as it went spinning, it was throwing off pieces of itself \u2013 radially out[wards]. \u2026There\u2019s a small one\u2026floating by and it looked like flakes.<\/span> \u2026And I think I caught three of the four SLA panels going as we were maneuvering. I\u2019ve got one out the hatch window now. It\u2019s quite a ways out. \u2026It\u2019s tumbling in all three axes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I saw the fourth one out my side,\u201d I reported, \u201cso we saw them all\u2026The area around the two spacecraft has cleaned up pretty well by now. There are just a few fragments moving around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow she\u2019s coming in,\u201d Evans interjected.<\/p>\n

The crew of Apollo 17 [have been] describing what appeared to be paint or possibly ice flaking off the Saturn Third stage. But somewhat puzzling at this point is just exactly what the flakes or particles that they\u2019re describing might be. Apollo 17 [is] in the process of docking with the lunar module, preparatory to extracting the LM from the Saturn 3rd stage. This [is] occurring at some 5300 nautical miles from Earth. And we\u2019re watching the spacecraft velocity drop off rapidly as the altitude increases rapidly. The velocity, which at the TransLunar Injection cutoff was around 35,000 feet per second, [is] down to about 22,000.<\/span><\/p>\n

As we moved closer to the Challenger<\/em> nestled in the end of the S-IVB (Figs. 5.9-<\/strong>5.11<\/strong>), I could see two of the Descent Stage storage bays (QUADS 1 and 4) on either side of the ladder (ladder is under the porch at upper right at ca. 2 o’clock in photo 148-22695 of Fig. 5.10<\/strong>). QUAD 1 contained the Lunar Rover and QUAD 4 housed the Modular Equipment Storage Assembly (MESA). <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRover [stowage area] looks in good shape, so far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.11.<\/strong> View of the S-IVB from Command Module America<\/em> during the Transposition and Docking maneuver. The Lunar Module Challenger<\/em> remains attached to the S-IVB within the Service Module\/Lunar Module Adapter (SLA) (NASA photo AS17-148-22698).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Can you see down on that quad [of the Challenger<\/em>]. Is that what you\u2019re looking at?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m looking right at it. And I got a good view of the MESA [quad] anyway. It\u2019s pretty well covered [by the edge of the Command Module], but it looks all right, also. \u2026All the antennas look good. Thruster quads all look great. I could see all four of them a minute ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Through all this discussion, Evans intently kept the three dimensional target on the Challenger<\/em> in alignment, finally stating, \u201cOkay, about 10 feet there, Gene. Stand by for a\u2026barber pole [on the PROBE EXTEND\/RETRACT talk-back indicator].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right; in good shape. \u2026It\u2019s in now!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCapture, Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019re [in CMC MODE] FREE; rates look pretty good. Let\u2019s lock it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You ready [for RETRACT]?\u201d I asked as a double check before placing the DOCKING PROBE RETRACT switch to PRIMARY 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady. She\u2019s lined up not bad,\u201d replied Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d confirmed Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cPRIM 1,\u201d I said and moved the RETRACT switch.<\/p>\n

\u201cMARK it,\u201d said Cernan. \u201cStand by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere she comes,\u201d observed Evans as the docking mechanism drew America<\/em> toward Challenger\u2019s<\/em> docking hatch. \u201cKa-chunk! My gosh!\u201d Evans reacted to the loud sound of the spring-loaded docking latches firing, automatically. Three hours and fifty-seven minutes after launch and we were connected to Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston, ripple fire [on the latches]; but we still have number A barber pole,\u201d Cernan reported. This meant that at least one of the three opposing latches had not fully closed. \u201cAnd we have a MASTER ALARM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe got most of the latches, but A is barber pole, and B is gray.\u201d Indicator A related to sensors on latches 1, 5, and 9 and indicator B related similarly to latches 3, 7 and 11. The remaining latches did not have sensors. At least three, alternating B latches apparently had fully closed. From the \u201cripple fire\u201d sounds we heard, the chances were good that most of the latches had closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans began, \u201ccheck circuit breakers; they\u2019re IN. \u2026We had one clear fire, maybe one or two latches and then a ripple fire on the rest,\u201d recalling what he had heard.<\/span> \u201cAnd, by the way, I had a good view into the AOT (Apollo Optical Telescope on the Challenger<\/em>], and I can still look in there, and its very clean.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRon and Gene, we saw your MASTER ALARM. Did you have anything on the [CAUTION AND WARNING] matrix light up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not a thing. I looked,\u201d answered Cernan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That appeared to be a repeat of the Master Alarm [that] has been reported several times previously by the crew. They get the alarm light and tone, but when they look for the exact location or precise indication of what\u2019s wrong it\u2019s not there, indicating some sort spurious response by the master alarm to a problem that doesn\u2019t exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan said while I grabbed the Malfunction Procedures book, \u201cwe\u2019re going to go ahead and take a look at that docking malfunction before we press on here further and check this barber pole [indication] out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We\u2019re working some words up here. We\u2019ll be back with you in a second on that, Gene.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I was going through the \u201cAfter dock latches have engaged\u201d portion of the Checklist with Evans so that both the automatic sequential events system and the docking mechanism were in a safe configuration.<\/p>\n

\u201cSECS PYRO ARM, two, SAFE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSAFE.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSECS LOGIC, two, OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEDS PWR, OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan reported to Overmyer, \u201cwe\u2019re down on the checklist through the EDS POWER breakers, OPEN. \u2026And, Houston, in case we didn\u2019t tell you, it\u2019s Talkback A that\u2019s barber pole.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand. We have it. \u2026After pausing for a few minutes to check out this indicator anomaly, Overmyer relayed Houston\u2019s consensus: \u201cSay, Gene, we don\u2019t think it\u2019s a problem. We\u2019ll find out what it is when you get in [the tunnel].\u201d We think we should just press right on with the Flight Plan checklist and keep going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mission Control probably was worried about the limited time they had to control and maneuver the S-IVB using its remaining battery power. The final S-IVB maneuver would target it for a lunar impact within the net of seismometers deployed by previous landing missions.<\/p>\n

At this point, I continued to read through the post-docking latches checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breakers EDS, three, open.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThree are OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDOCKING PROBE EXTEND\/RELEASE switch to OFF\u2026I have that one, and the next one \u2013 two DOCKING PROBE RETRACT switches to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As Cernan preformed these switch position changes, the previous anomaly concerning spurious MASTER ALARMS reoccurred. \u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan said. \u201cWe just got a MASTER ALARM when I went to the RETRACT PRIM, from 1 to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy that. Looks like Panel 2 is jinxed up there, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breakers DOCKING PROBE, two, OPEN.\u201d<\/span> This completed the removal of any possible power from the docking system now that America <\/em>appeared to be firmly attached to Challenger<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, check both circuit breakers \u2013 they\u2019re IN. Yes. Okay,\u201d Evans said, but misspoke and meant they were OPEN.<\/p>\n

Next, I guided Evans through the Checklist items that would reconfigure the spacecraft control system for coasting flight rather than maneuvering.<\/p>\n

\u201cRATE to HIGH.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cATTITUDE DEADBAND to MAXIMUM.\u201d<\/span> This change would minimize the automatic firing of the Service Module attitude control thrusters and thus save fuel for future planned and possible unplanned maneuvers. Flight philosophy always sought to preserve all consumables, that is, fuel, hydrogen and oxygen, just in case of some unanticipated future need.<\/p>\n

\u201cCOAS (Crew Optical Alignment System) POWER to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span> Evans had become more subdued as the excitement of Transposition and Docking wore off.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit Breakers REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, two, verify open.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTHRUST VECTOR CONTROL SERVO POWER #1 to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTRANSLATIONAL HAND CONTROLLER and RIGHT HAND CONTROLLER, LOCKED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s LOCKED.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cENTRY MONITORING SYSTEM to STANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c EMS, STANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cENTRY MONITORING SYSTEM to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVerify that three BMAG switches are RATE 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are now RATE 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, O2 HEATER number 3, to AUTO, and I got that one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO2 HEATER number 3 went to AUTO,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

After configuring the three couches so as to maximize room in the Lower Equipment Bay (LEB), we verified that there was no power going to the Lunar Module umbilical Cernan would soon connect in the tunnel between America<\/em> and Challenger.<\/em> Of course, while in the tunnel, Cernan also would inspect the docking latches to see if there were any indications of malfunctions.<\/p>\n

A few minutes later, Cernan floated to the apex of the cabin to begin work in the tunnel. Decals in appropriate places gave the checklist procedures for this activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan said, beginning the decal checklist for pressure equalization between the two spacecraft.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, I need CRYO PRESS INDICATOR to SURGE 3. \u2026You should read between 865 and 935 psi.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s there,\u201d Ron replied, from the Lower Equipment Bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, EMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE SELECT to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cREPRESS PACKAGE VALVE to OFF\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDIRECT O2 VALVE to CLOSE. And you should see a CAUTION AND WARNING light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCLOSED and a light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m putting the TUNNEL VENT VALVE indicator to LM\/CM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. We\u2019re reading a DELTA-P (difference in pressure) of greater than 4, and I\u2019m going to open the PRESSURE EQUALIZATION VALVE, now. \u2026Okay, the DELTA-P is coming down, Bob.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. \u2026Gene, while you\u2019re watching that, I just thought you\u2019d be interested. We talked to some of our friends down at the Cape who watched the launch, and they said you were aglow all the way until you faded into [a point where] you couldn\u2019t tell you from a star. They saw staging, and they could just see you as a star way off in the distance until you faded out. Not a cloud in the way at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeautiful! \u2026Okay, we\u2019re at 2 [psi DELTA-P] and we\u2019re monitoring it for three minutes\u2026 Jack, I closed the PRESSURE EQUALIZATION VALVE so give me a countdown to 3 minutes on the event timer and we will see how tight the tunnel is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWilco.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Houston,\u201d I called after taking more Earth photos, \u201cwhile we\u2019re checking the [tunnel] integrity here, on Mag Alfa Alfa, [I have] 50%.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeno, now 30 seconds\u202620\u202610, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, MARK.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Okay, Bob,\u201d Cernan reported. \u201cThat\u2019s three minutes. DELTA-P change (difference) is less than zero point 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThree minutes and less than 0.1,\u201d acknowledged Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026We are pressing on [with the decal checklist].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPRESSURE EQUALIZATION VALVE is OPEN. Ron, check the CABIN PRESSURE INDICATOR is about 4.0 psi.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c4.2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, now OPEN the REPRESS O2 VALVE and cycle between 4.0 and 5.7 until you see zero on the REPRESS O2 PRESSURE INDICATOR.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cREPRESS O2 VALVE is OPEN and I\u2019m cycling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans began talking to himself on an open mike. \u201c\u2026 Cabin\u2019s at 4.8 now; REPRESS is about empty. \u2026No, not yet, it\u2019s still getting a little bit. \u2026That REPRESS PACKAGE VALVE is kind of noisy. \u2026That\u2019s all the REPRESS O2. We\u2019ll turn that OFF.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron, DELTA-P is about zero point two,\u201d Cernan called from the tunnel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Houston, the REPRESS PACKAGE is empty now,\u201d Evans relayed, \u201cand we are down to a DELTA-P of zero point two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy that. \u2026And, Seventeen, just be advised, you\u2019re going to have an S-IVB non-propulsive vent start at 04:18:27. You\u2019ve got about three minutes on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan laughed. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you reach [the valves] there?\u201d I asked Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019ll get them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, did you CLOSE the REPRESS O2 VALVE?\u201d Cernan asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAffirmative.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d an impatient Cernan called. \u201cWe seem to be holding [LM\/CM] DELTA-P at about zero point two. I suspect that\u2019s probably zero [pressure difference]. \u2026And the cabin pressure\u2019s about 4.5. You want us to wait until 5 psi [in the cabin] for EMERGENCY CABIN PRESSURE SELECT [to BOTH]?\u201d This procedure would be the fastest way to get America\u2019s<\/em> pressure back to normal.<\/p>\n

\u201cNegative on that. Let\u2019s just go ahead and let\u2019s press on [at this pressure].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan continued, speaking to Evans. \u201cThey (the valves) should be [to] BOTH.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, EMERGENCY REPRESS [is] working. \u2026[Delta-P] coming down, though, Gene. Let\u2019s wait until it gets down a little ways. \u2026Yes, straight up and down as well. \u2026Up one [point] one\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking out the window at the S-IVB, Ron kidded, \u201cMust be the non-propulsive vent that\u2019s banging. Here comes all the [material from the S-IVB]. Look at all the stuff going [out] again. It\u2019s really glowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour \u2018non-propulsive vent\u2019 gives quite a glow,\u201d I said, pulling the leg of my booster Flight Controller friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like a rainbow. A dark one,\u201d added Evans and then went back to work. \u201cOkay, REPRESS PAKAGE to FILL. \u2026That ought to take the [oxygen] surge tank down a little bit\u2026to about, what? About 400 [psi]? [I mean,] 500. 500 on the surge [tank].\u201d Ron was looking at the CRYO O2 PRESSURE INDICATOR.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we leave the REPRESS PACKAGE valves open?\u201d asked Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they ought to be closed off by now, I think. Yes, close them,\u201d answered Cernan, referring to the hatch decal checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, You should see the cryo tank pressure go to above 835. \u2026Okay, back to the decal \u2013 TUNNEL VENT VALVE to OFF. \u2026 Ron, we need the WASTE STOWAGE VALVE to VENT.\u201d<\/span> It will stay there until Houston reminds us to close it after the cabin has been purged.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. \u2026Be advised, you don\u2019t have to wait until 5 psi cabin to go ahead and open the hatch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we\u2019re not [waiting], Bob. We\u2019re pressing on with it now. \u2026Okay, it looks like we\u2019re going to maintain about 400 [psi] on the surge [tank]. \u2026Okay, Houston. The hatch is coming out.\u201d To do this, Cernan needed to un-stow and then stow the hatch\u2019s actuator handle.<\/p>\n

Evans started laughing. \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re going to do with it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPut it up here\u2026on the couch. \u2026There we go. \u2026Hey, that\u2019s a lot lighter than it used to be. \u2026There\u2019s going to be a lot of happy people down there, Bob. I haven\u2019t checked them all (the docking latches), but visually, they\u2019re all locked, \u2026Let me give them a good check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d cautioned Evans. \u201cYou\u2019d better check them, because we got a barber pole on that one [set].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, here\u2019s one that [is only partially] over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the position of it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c7 and 9 are not fully locked.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c7 and 9?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Bob,\u201d Cernan reported to Houston. \u201cMaybe we aren\u2019t all going to be so happy\u2026Okay, [for latches] 7, 9, and 10: the handle is flush; the bungee is vertical, but the handle is not locked down, and the red [caution] button is showing. And I can pull each one of them back slowly. I haven\u2019t done anything [else] with them. That\u2019s 7, 9 and 10.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy that.\u201d Overmyer repeated back Cernan\u2019s report.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s affirm. \u2026Okay, Bob\u2026I just pushed the handle on 10 a little bit and it did lock. And the red button is flush. So that leaves me 9 and 7.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger; understand. \u2026Geno, go ahead and try the handle on 9 and 7; and, if that doesn\u2019t work, cock them and re-fire them starting with 9, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. The handle doesn\u2019t work. I\u2019ll have to re-cock them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you trip it with your [finger],\u201d asked Evans who knew the docking system backwards and forwards and probably should have been doing the trouble shooting, \u201cdid you cock it twice?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d It is not clear that Cernan had actually had done what Evans said he should.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it took two cocks to make it go?\u201d Evans asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. \u2026Okay, 9 cocked twice \u2013 it tripped. It is over-center and locked.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. How about the barber pole now,\u201d Overmyer enquired.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait a minute.\u201d Evans had to reverse some of the changes we made, post-docking, in order to get power to the indicators. \u201cI\u2019ve got DOCKING PROBE MAIN A circuit breaker\u2019s IN and [I\u2019ve] gone to [DOCKING PROBE] RETRACT [ON], and it\u2019s gray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. Cocked 7 twice and tripped it, and it\u2019s over-center and locked. \u2026I think that takes care of them all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood show!\u201d Left unexplained was why the B system, which had a sensor on latch 7, did not identify a problem, that is, showed gray on its indicator.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, DOCKING PROBE circuit breakers are OUT and EXTEND\/RETRACT is OFF,\u201d reported Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is this thing on the probe painted yellow,\u201d<\/span> Cernan asked Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it belongs on the probe. \u2026Its painted yellow [because] it belongs on the probe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob. The umbilicals [to the Challenger<\/em>] are connected,\u201d said Cernan. These umbilical lines between the two spacecraft allowed America\u2019s<\/em> electrical power to go to some heaters on critical equipment in the Challenger<\/em> and to give me a readout on the voltage of one LM battery\u2013 a capability, used in reverse with LM battery power to the heaters, that had allowed Apollo 13 to trickle charge its Command Module entry batteries, removing the last hurdle to the crew\u2019s safe return to Earth[15]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong>. A LM PWR toggle switch on one of the main panels in America<\/em> controlled whether CSM current went to the heaters, based on thermal management decisions by the Lunar Module flight control team in Mission Control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Handing the hatch back to Cernan, I said to myself, \u201cThere we go. \u2026There, we\u2019re going up in the tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Out of the recesses of the Lower Equipment Bay, Evans said, \u201cPretty good ham sandwich.\u201d This was the sandwich we had put in our suit pockets when suiting up for launch.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob, the hatch is back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our next activity involved separating and ejecting Challenger<\/em> from the S-IVB. This required firing the pyrotechnic charges in the clamps holding Challenger <\/em>to the booster so that mechanical springs could push the two docked spacecraft away at about one foot per second. I began my checklist reading again with Cernan and Evans responding.<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit breakers S-IVB\/LM SEPARATION, two, verify closed, and I\u2019ll do that over here. \u2026Verified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDELTA VELOCITY CENTER OF GRAVITY, verify at LM\/CSM.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLM\/CSM on CG.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cENTRY MONITORING SYSTEM to DELTA V SET\/VHF RANGING.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS to DELTA SET\/RANGING.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSlew DELTA V indicator to +100.0 [feet per second].<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlus 100.0.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cENTRY MONITORING SYSTEM FUNCTION to DELTA<\/span><\/p>\n

V.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMS FUNCTION is DELTA V.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have the TAPE RECORDER in HIGH BIT RATE \/ RECORD \/ FORWARD \/ COMMAND RESET and the Sequence Camera (DATA ACQISITION CAMERA) to six frames per second.<\/span><\/p>\n

At this point, Overmyer called, \u201cWe\u2019ve got some new angles here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the duty recorder, I said, \u201cStand by a minute, and let me find a place to copy them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of angles are they, Bob?\u201d queried Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re your NOUN 22 attitude maneuver for the [S-IVB] APS (Auxiliary Propulsion System) burn out of the hatch window. They\u2019re in the middle of the page L\/3-5\u2026Instead of 270, we want 274 [for roll]\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait one,\u201d Evans interrupted. \u201cWe\u2019re not quite with you\u2026\u201d He had seen me scrambling for a pen.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I think I\u2019m with you at page 3-7; GO,\u201d I said, since I had the Checklist.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on 3-5, Jack,\u201d Overmyer corrected, \u201cmiddle of the page, there. Those NOUN 22s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I take it back; 3-5, middle of the page.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you notice there\u2019s rhree angles there\u2026270, make that 274.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the only change?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026and the next one [pitch], the 129.8, change that to 164. And 4.3 on the yaw, change that to zero. It\u2019s close enough; zero on the yaw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d I replied. \u201cWe got them at 274, 164 [and] 000.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, and the high-gain [antenna] angles that you\u2019ve got on the Flight Plan are close enough and should do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore that NOUN 22 load, Ron, give me a V48\u2026and load the DAP with two\u2026one\u2026one\u2026zero\u2026one in Register One\u2026and four ones after the X in Register Two. \u2026Now do your NOUN 22 thing\u2026and load roll with two\u2026seven\u2026four\u2026, pitch with one\u2026 six\u2026four\u2026, and yaw with all zeros.\u201d<\/span> This attitude would give us a good hatch window view of the S-IVB maneuver.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I want a VERB 60, followed by a VERB 63.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Working with the DAC camera, I mused to myself, \u201cI\u2019ll leave it at ten feet and about an f\/8. \u2026Okay, all set [in its bracket]\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Gene said, \u201cwe\u2019re aligning our GDC (Gyro Display Coupler) and the next thing we\u2019ll pick up will be SECS ARM circuit breakers. And we will give you a call on the [SECS] LOGIC.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d I interjected. \u201cWhile we\u2019re waiting, does the balance on the H2 and O2 flow into Fuel Cell 3\u2026actually, into all three Fuel Cells, look pretty good to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack, the flows look just right for the current.\u201d This was a comparison that Mission Control could make better than I.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. [I\u2019m] used to seeing them more or less lined up, and I hadn\u2019t calculated any further than that. \u2026O2 seems a little higher than H2, relatively speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back to the preparation for separation from the S-IVB, Evans verified closure of the circuit breakers for the SEQUENCIAL EVENTS CONTROL SYSTEM. \u201cOkay, Houston, we\u2019re ready to come up with the LOGIC [switches to ON].\u201d Mission Control always wanted to watch this system as we switched power to it. \u201cOkay, Houston,\u201d continued Evans, \u201cLOGIC 1 is coming ON now and LOGIC 2.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026And, Houston,\u201d Evans continued, \u201cjust to keep track of [the] ENTRY MONITOR SYSTEM null bias (system drift) check, that time [it] went from 100 to 100.7 in 100 seconds.\u201d He had done another quick NULL BIAS CHECK.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, we\u2019d like to just verify on that top line [of the checklist] S-IVB\/LM SEP circuit breakers \u2013 both of them are CLOSED?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans replied, \u201cwe\u2019ll verify them again. We double checked them [earlier].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, we just didn\u2019t hear your call, and we want to make sure of that. Didn\u2019t want to miss anything, here.\u201d Actually, I had not read that part of the checklist on the air-to-ground loop.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. They are verified CLOSED,\u201d Evans replied. \u201cand Jack just checked them again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Overmyer said. Then, \u201cyou are go for PYRO ARM and GO for [LM] extraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, GO for PYRO ARM; GO for PYRO extraction\u2026\u201d With Cernan and me laughing, Evans corrected himself, \u201cor LM extraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the GO from Mission Control, I went back to the checklist and said, \u201cOkay, PYRO ARM.\u201d<\/p>\n

To which Evans replied, \u201cOkay, we\u2019ll ARM the old PYROs. There\u2019s PYRO A\u2026PYRO B.<\/p>\n

\u201c[TVC] SERVO POWER number 1 to AC1\/MAIN A [power],\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cTVC SERVO POWER, AC 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTRANS CONTROL POWER, up and ON [verify].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTRANS CONTROL POWER is ON.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, ROTATIONAL CONTROLLERS are ARMED. Okay, I\u2019ll wait just a little bit on that. \u2026EMS to NORMAL. \u2026Get DELTA V changes by going to VERB 37 ENTER 47 ENTER. You should have a flashing 16 83 showing DELTA V for X, Y, and Z.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, EMS to NORMAL. Push right there. Yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDAC is started,\u201d<\/span> I told them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d said Cernan, entering the conversation. \u201cOn my mark. [Remember] the S-IVB\/LM SEP [light] will come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans responded, \u201cand then I\u2019ll back it off to\u2026okay?<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, on my mark, S-IVB\/LM SEP: three, two, one, MARK it. Okay, we got it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, ho! Man, did we!\u201d exclaimed our Kansan. \u201cThere she goes. Yes; LM came with us! \u2026Okay, we\u2019re [in] CMC AUTO. All right. We\u2019ve got 0.6 [feet per second]. It\u2019s all right [for separation velocity]. Okay, whoopee-dee-do!\u201d<\/p>\n

15 thousand miles from Earth and four hours and forty-five minutes after launch from the Kennedy Space Center, America <\/em>and Challenger<\/em> left the Saturn V and proceeded to the Moon on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cPROCEED [on the DISKEY].\u201d<\/span> This took the computer to P00 [idle].<\/p>\n

\u201cGene, when the CMC Activity light is out, ENTER VERB 66.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, VERB 66 ENTER.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSECS PYRO ARM, two, to SAFE,\u201d<\/span> I read, now off line.<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe the PYROS,\u201d confirmed Evans.<\/p>\n

\u201cSECS LOGIC, two, OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, LOGIC\u2019s OFF.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCircuit breaker SECS ARM, two, OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSECS ARM breakers are OPEN. \u2026Now, I think we ought to go to the maneuver pretty quick. Otherwise, the S-IVB will be so far away you can\u2019t see it. Okay, you ready to maneuver [to viewing attitude]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo ahead,\u201d<\/span> confirmed Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Evans said, talking to himself as he initiated the maneuver. \u201cCMC\u2019s in AUTO. Away we go. \u2026That [bump] wasn\u2019t as bad as the original [separation].\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCame right out, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo SIVB\/LM SEPARATION circuit breakers, OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO2 TANK 3 ISOLATION valve talkback, gray. I verify that. \u2026MAPPING CAMERA ON switch to OFF. PANORAMIC CAMERA POWER switch to OFF.\u201d<\/span> These last two items were part of their normal power cycling requirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cMAPPING CAMERA AND PAN CAMERA are OFF,\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

I kept moving down the Post-LM EJECTION Checklist items with Evans sporadically taking the various actions due to his wonder about seeing the Earth. I was impressed by the view, but a combination of my geological expectations that this is what I would see and my desire to make sure we made it to the Moon made me more focused on the immediate tasks at hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cSERVICE MODULE\/AC POWER, to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. POWER\u2019s OFF. Hey, Jack. Hand me the Hasselblad [camera]. I think we\u2019re going in the right direction. Yes, the Moon is there. The Earth is\u2026that\u2019s the Earth!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s finish this, Ron. LAUNCH VEHICLE\/SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM INDICATOR switch to GPI and I will do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTVC SERVO POWER, two, to OFF, Ron.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[THRUST VECTOR CONTROL] SERVO POWER\u2019s OFF, yes?\u201d Cernan had taken up the Post-LM Ejection Checklist run through while Evans took pictures of parts of the Earth visible outside the hatch window.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Earth just fills up window 5.\u201d Not paying any attention to me, Evans was looking out the square window on my right. I gave him the camera and he said, \u201cOkay, f [-stop], [focus at] infinity, about a 250th<\/sup> [of a second shutter speed]\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRon, do you want the viewing attitude numbers, now?\u201d<\/span> I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? What do you have [for viewing attitude]?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c274 for roll, 164 for pitch [and] 000 for yaw.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026[That] a zero in there [for yaw]? \u2026Hey, I lost my watch!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEMS MODE switch to STANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSTANDBY.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEMD FUNCTION switch to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Turn [EMS FUNCTION] OFF\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cTAPE RECORDER, OFF, and I got that\u2026and PCM BIT RATE to LOW\u2026and STOP the DAC.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Ron, I need you to put the four AUTO RCS SELECT switches to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, [AUTO REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM] AC is OFF. \u2026Whoo, what a beauty! What a beauty!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I will put three O2 HEATER switches to OFF, \u2026and we can watch the S-IVB.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When we finished the last few items on the checklist, and then it was time to go to the right attitude for viewing the S-IVB as it made its evasive maneuver so as to move on a slightly different trajectory to the Moon. Eventually, the S-IVB would be targeted to a lunar impact about 12.5 degrees west and 4.2 degrees south of the center of the Moon.[16]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong> This impact point would provide a new set of seismic signals from a known location southwest of the existing seismometer net set out by Apollos 12, 14, 15 and 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see the S-IVB,\u201d Cernan interjected.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at that!\u201d an amazed CMP continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I replied. \u201cMadagascar and Africa (Fig. 5.12<\/strong>) Got to be. \u2026Hey, there\u2019s Antarctica. It\u2019s all full of snow!\u201d as if no one knew that. \u201cYou want to look?\u201d I asked Evans.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.12.<\/strong> Apollo 17 view of Madagascar, the western Indian Ocean, and the east coast of South Africa (NASA photo AS17-148-22717).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you see the S-IVB, Jack?\u201d<\/span> Cernan asked me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Oh, there it goes\u2026there!\u201d I replied. Looks kind of empty down there without the LM.\u201d (Fig. 5.13<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Bob,\u201d Cernan reported, \u201cwe\u2019re looking right up the dome of the S-IVB.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.13.<\/strong> Three views of the S-IVB from the CM looking past the top of the LM Challenger<\/em> now docked to America<\/em>. (top<\/em>): The empty \u201cnest\u201d where the LM had been stowed at the end of the S-IVB above the O2<\/sub> tank. (middle<\/em>): Maneuvering into a position that will take the S-IVB on an independent trajectory to impact on the Moon. (bottom<\/em>): Closer view of the same (NASA photos AS17-148-22705, -22711, and -22714, respectively).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. We copy that. We\u2019re standing by for your GO for [S-IVB] yaw maneuver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can give them a GO for yaw, can\u2019t we?\u201d Evans asked. \u201cWe can see it now.\u201d Having the S-IVB in sight from America<\/em> before any maneuvering of the unattached S-IVB was a constraint put on by the Astronaut Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we can see it,\u201d said Cernan. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a GO for the yaw. \u2026Looks like she came out of there clean as a whistle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. The yaw maneuver will be starting in about 4 plus 52 [ground elapsed time since launch], a little less than two minutes from now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like you are taking a picture of that old dome out there, huh?\u201d Overmyer interjected.<\/p>\n

We would leave America\u2019s <\/em>thrusters and their control systems activated until after the evasive burn in case the S-IVB failed to perform that burn. In that event, Evans would thrust along our +x axis for six seconds to provide the desired separation but at the cost of using some of his precious \u201cVolkswagen\u201d reserve of RCS propellant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d I cried. \u201cThere it goes. Look at the aft fire of the thing!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we can see it fire, now,\u201d Cernan added.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Seventeen. Yaw maneuver started.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe old S-IVB had a flare for the dramatic,\u201d I replied, referring to the hold on the launch pad that involved its liquid oxygen tank, \u201cbut it certainly did its job for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack. Preliminary data indicate that you are about as nominal [on the trajectory to the Moon] as you can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the way we\u2019d like to keep it, Bob,\u201d agreed Cernan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better believe it!\u201d<\/p>\n

As we watched the booster maneuver, the whole of the rocket became visible from the dome of the liquid oxygen tank below the Challenger\u2019s<\/em> former home, to the guidance section (the Inertial Unit or IU), to the J-2 engine bell at the aft end. Everything we could see of the booster looked normal with no sign of any paint having come off its sides, possibly suggesting that all the particles we had seen were ice.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026As we\u2019re looking at it,\u201d Cernan described, \u201cshe\u2019s pitching up. She was looking right at us \u2013 we were looking right at the dome \u2013 and now she\u2019s pitching up. The shroud around the IU seems to be totally intact. It looked like a super clean separation. I can\u2019t really see where there\u2019s any paint or anything externally chipped off the booster from here. We\u2019re beginning to pick up the [engine] bell. It\u2019s really a shame you don\u2019t have this whole thing on TV \u2013 it\u2019s really quite a sight. \u2026The Mylar and the gold coating on the inside of the shroud that\u2019s now visible is also intact. It looks like you could use it again, if you could get it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Overmyer reminded, its got a job to do when it hits the Moon, yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Okay, Bob. We\u2019re almost looking at it broadside now. \u2026She\u2019s spitting a little \u2013 looks like the yaw maneuver may be complete.\u201d Cernan then repeated how clean the entire booster looked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re happy, we\u2019d like a GO from you for the evasive burn.\u201d With the yaw maneuver complete, a short burn by its Auxiliary Propulsion System would add 10 feet per second along the S-IVB\u2019s x-axis. This would put it on a trajectory to the Moon that would not interfere with the remainder of our flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get a picture or two here yet, and we\u2019ll give you a GO.\u201d (Fig. 5.14<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fig. 5.14.<\/strong> Longitudinal view of the S-IVB, third stage of the Saturn V, just before its evasive burn to set it on a trajectory to the Moon different from that of America<\/em>. Upon impact, it would provide a seismic signal of known energy to be sensed by Apollo\u2019s net of seismometers deployed on Apollos 12, 14, 15, and 16 (NASA Photo AS17-148-22724).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Gene, it\u2019ll be about seven minutes until the [planned] evasive burn [at] 5 plus 30.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Cernan said after we had some photographs of the S-IVB. \u201cYou have a GO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for your reference,\u201d I reported, \u201cat frame 105, I started a few 250 millimeter pictures of the S-IVB.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Bob,\u201d commented Cernan, \u201cthe entire sky, as far as I can make it out through the hatch window, is completely filled with our twinkling flakes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To which I added, \u201cI saw a couple particles go by the window awhile back, and it looked a little bit like insulation in this particular case \u2013 styro-foam insulation, but in flat flakes\u2026That was right after we separated [Challenger<\/em>] from the S-IVB.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. Understand.\u201d Overmyer had an inclination to follow \u201cRoger\u201d, which means \u201cunderstand\u201d in pilot language, with the redundant word, \u201cunderstand.\u201d He might have wanted to be sure he was clear to all the non-pilots listening in on the transmissions.<\/p>\n

[Later, we concluded that the fragments were pieces of the frosty ice sheath that had accumulated on the very cold sides of the Saturn during our delayed launch in the humid Florida air. Such a frost layer would not have the dense appearance of solid ice, but might look relatively incoherent like insulation. Most of the frost sheath on the external skin around the cold LOX and H2 tanks had come off quickly during the heavy vibration of the S-IC first stage; however, some of it on the S-IVB third stage apparently survived until the shock of shutdown at the end of the TLI burn. As a consequence, the fragments had more or less the same velocity toward the Moon as did America <\/em>and Challenger<\/em>. No formal post-mission investigation as to the source of these fragments, however, is included in the Apollo 17 Mission Report on anomalies.]<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure is round, isn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBob,\u201d Cernan called, \u201cI know we\u2019re not the first to discover this, but we\u2019d like to confirm, from the crew of America, that the world is round.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger. That\u2019s a good data point. Have you gotten a good look at any of that weather down there on the Antarctic?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d broke in Evans,\u201d it\u2019s real funny there in Antarctica. \u2026You can see the snow, but there isn\u2019t any weather at all in it. All the weather\u2019s around it in the water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where the moisture is,\u201d I suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. Look\u2019s like you\u2019ve got a super conservative CMP up there. We\u2019ve run off some numbers. Looks like you used about 40 pounds of RCS [Reaction Control System propellants] on the T&D (Transposition and Docking), and you\u2019ve used about a total of 42 pounds RCS total; so we\u2019re hanging right in there [on the fuel budget]. Beautiful!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026velvet touch,\u201d Evans responded. \u201cStill a little bit too much, but that\u2019s not bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cernan added, \u201cWe\u2019ll be glad to leave all that extra, I hope, in the Service Module when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in the Volkswagen pouch down there,\u201d said Evans.<\/p>\n

During this back and forth, I was beginning my three and a half day campaign of observing and photographing Earth\u2019s weather, using the 60mm Hasselblad camera and Ectachrome 360 color film. This was the first time this new Kodak film had been used in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. It\u2019s about 30 seconds from the evasive maneuver burn [by the S-IVB]\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere Jack, \u201ccan you see him good [out your window]?\u201d Evans asked, as he floated the cameral over to me. \u201cCheck the settings there [on the camera]. I took [it earlier] at an f\/22 stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

At five hours, three minutes, and 19 seconds, Cernan reported, \u201cThere it goes, Bob!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it goes\u2026, finally,\u201d I repeated, happy to have that phase of the flight under our belts.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeventeen, Houston. The evasive burn is complete, and the LOX dump will be a 5 plus 24 plus 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be gone, I think, before we see it,\u201d I commented, thinking that 20 minutes (1200 seconds) at 10 feet per second relative velocity change would put the S-IVB over two miles away when the oxygen dump occurred. I had not taken into account the huge oxygen cloud that would ensue. The dump would add a further 28 feet per second to the separation velocity.<\/p>\n

The success of the S-IVB evasive maneuver meant that we could reconfigure some control switches that had been left active in case we might have to move farther from the booster. I quickly went through those items and Evans took care of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Ron, lets verify that the two DIRECT ULLAGE circuit breakers are OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

TRANSLATION CONTROL POWER goes to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo ROTATIONAL CONTROLLER POWER switches, OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo are OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLOCK the two hand controllers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGene, you get yours and I\u2019ll get the one over here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Ron, you have to go down to the LEB and put the REPRESS PACKAGE VALVE to OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. \u2026It is OFF.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, while you are down there, the O2 ISOLATION\/AUXILLARY BATTERY circuit breaker should be OPEN.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Bob,\u201d Cernan declared, \u201cyou can tell Frank [van Rensselaer] to forget returning the phone call I made to him a couple of days ago. \u2026All my questions are answered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThink you\u2019ve had enough booster briefings, huh?\u201d responded Overmyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I figure this is probably the best one of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank said [from across the MOCR] he\u2019d guarantee all those S-IVBs would just as good as that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. That\u2019s fair enough. The S-IC and the S-II didn\u2019t put on a bad show either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHouston, magazine November November is on about 123 right now.\u201d I reported.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026And, Bob,\u201d Cernan said, \u201cwe\u2019re on page 3-9 of the Flight Plan now. We\u2019ll check the LM\/CM DELTA-P [and] get the Cabin Fan Filter in. We\u2019ll go over the Systems Checklist, get [deactivate] the Primary Evaporator, and a few odds and ends, and start doffing our PGAs (Pressure Garment Assembly, that is, Apollo-speak for \u2018spacesuit\u2019). How\u2019s that sound?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like a winner, Gene.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so, the three and a half day flight to the Moon had begun.<\/p>\n

(to be continued\u2026)<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/p>\n

ENDNOTES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    In the quoted dialog and annotations directly related to the Apollo 17 Mission, black = normal mission activity and commentary with quotes from the NASA transcript of air to ground communications; red<\/span> = spacecraft anomaly discussions; blue<\/span> = Earth observations; brown<\/span> = Lunar Module Challenger<\/em> discussions; green<\/span> = Public Affairs Office transcripts or news updates from Mission Control; and purple<\/span> = lunar observations. Other than their use in the names of spacecraft, italics<\/em> = onboard recorder transcripts (Data Storage Equipment or Command Module DSE and Data Storage Electronics Assembly or Lunar Module DSEA), and turquoise<\/span> = probable dialog derived from the author\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

    In addition, parentheses (-) in the text are used to clarify the meaning of a preceding word or phrase. The use of text inside brackets [-] provides completion of an unspoken transcript thought. Brackets [-] enclosing letters or words quoted from a checklist complete abbreviated words to clarify what the word in question means. They are also used for parenthetical emphasis of explanatory paragraphs set off from regular text.<\/p>\n

    The CMC (Command Module Computer) commands are referred to occasionally in text as Pxx (Program i.d. number), Nounxx (data specification), or Verbxx (action number) to be carried out by the CMC when entered by hand.\u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    For a 3D Virtual Reality online tour of the interior of the Apollo 11 Command Module (CM), which will give the reader an idea of the design layout associated with the sequence of events described in the following pages, see the digitization model provided by the Smithsonian Institute by clicking here<\/span><\/a>. It may take a couple of minutes for all components of the interior scene to appear, depending on the speed of the web connection and user computer, but once fully loaded, the controls are at the upper left of the display screen. The main controls are the right-left arrowheads followed by \u201c[1 of 27]start\u201d, etc. Later mission CMs differ, among other things, by having some switch\/light combinations in different locations on the instrument panels. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Sutton, George P. and Biblarz, Oscar, 2001, Rocket Propulsion Elements<\/em>. 7th ed. Wiley and Sons, p. 350.\u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Clavius, Space Vehicles \u2013 Pogo and the Saturn V, Definition given here<\/span><\/a>.\u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Marshall Space Flight Center, 1973, Saturn V Launch Vehicle flight Evaluation Report-AS-512 \u2013 Apollo 17 Mission, MPR-SAT-FE-73-1, click here<\/span><\/a> for a PDF copy. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Mellberg, W. F., 2012, The Apollo 17 Launch: An Eyewitness Account<\/em>, a 1.5 Mb PDF file published on this website. Download a copy by clicking here<\/span><\/a>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Wendt, G., 2001, The Unbroken Chain<\/em>, Apogee, Burlington, Ontario, p. 158. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  8. \n

    Kelly, T. J., 2001, Moon Lander<\/em>, Smithsonian, Washington, pp. 251-252. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  9. \n

    Talkbacks are small, square visual indicators that show either barber pole and gray depending on the status of certain critical mechanisms, e.g., valves and latches. Position sensors on the mechanisms are tied to the talkbacks by independent electrical circuits. If the window shows yellow diagonal stripes (barber pole), then the condition indicates an abnormal or temporary status. If the window shows a solid gray appearance, then the condition of the mechanism is normal or as commanded. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  10. \n

    Apollo Mission Evaluation Team, (1973) Apollo 17 Mission Report<\/em>, 15.1.2 Mission Timer Slow, Johnson Space Center, JSC-07904, p. 15-3, March, 1973. PDF available by clicking here<\/span><\/a>. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  11. \n

    No transcripts or audio from onboard tapes have been located from this point through TLI. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  12. \n

    Unfortunately, no tape record of these descriptions prior to 2:25 GET have been located. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  13. \n

    Motto of the Apollo 17 Mission. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  14. \n

    Adapted in part from Schmitt, H. H., 1994, A Trip to the Moon, in V. Neal, editor, Where Next, Columbus?<\/em> Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 41-76. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  15. \n

    Lybergot, S., 2001, Apollo EECOM, Apogee, Books, Burlingame, Ontario, p. 145; Kranz, G., 2000, Failure Is Not An Option<\/em>, Berkeley, New York, p. 329-330. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  16. \n

    Latham, G. V., et al., 1973, Passive seismic experiment, Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Report, NASA-SP 330, p. 11-1 to 11-9. \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Copyright \u00a9 by Harrison H. Schmitt, 2017. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chapter 5 “30 Seconds and Counting”[1] Ignition of the five F-1 engines of the Saturn V S-IC first stage of Apollo 17 at Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, December 7, 1972 (NASA photo S72-55482). T-minus 30 seconds\u2026we have a cutoff, we have a cutoff at T-minus 30 seconds. We are standing by at the T-minus … <\/p>\n

    Continue reading “Chapter 5 – “30 Seconds and Counting””<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":3344,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1797","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9bNBl-sZ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1797"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3363,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1797\/revisions\/3363"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colinmackellar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}